Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of families that have been living in emergency accommodation for longer than the six-week legal limit.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department publishes quarterly statistics on statutory homelessness in England, which can be found on gov.uk here. The latest quarterly data was published on 22 July 2025, covering January to March 2025.
The number of under 18s in temporary accommodation in English local authorities is included in the data (TA8), including by age on a local authority level. Councils must ensure that temporary accommodation is suitable for the needs of the household and should keep the suitability of accommodation under review. The Homelessness Code of Guidance for local authorities sets out the factors to be taken into account when determining the suitability of accommodation..
The latest quarterly statistics includes additional data tables on the English regions that out of area placements have been made to, by the local authority or region that they have been placed from (TA9). The data does not provide a breakdown of the number of households with children. The Department does not collect address level data that would allow the tracking of the distance households have moved
The number of households in B&B accommodation with children and resident more than six weeks is included in the data (TA1).
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of families in temporary accommodation were placed outside their own local authority area in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department publishes quarterly statistics on statutory homelessness in England, which can be found on gov.uk here. The latest quarterly data was published on 22 July 2025, covering January to March 2025.
The number of under 18s in temporary accommodation in English local authorities is included in the data (TA8), including by age on a local authority level. Councils must ensure that temporary accommodation is suitable for the needs of the household and should keep the suitability of accommodation under review. The Homelessness Code of Guidance for local authorities sets out the factors to be taken into account when determining the suitability of accommodation..
The latest quarterly statistics includes additional data tables on the English regions that out of area placements have been made to, by the local authority or region that they have been placed from (TA9). The data does not provide a breakdown of the number of households with children. The Department does not collect address level data that would allow the tracking of the distance households have moved
The number of households in B&B accommodation with children and resident more than six weeks is included in the data (TA1).
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has put in place a process to track the distance that families have moved when placed in temporary accommodation out of their local authority area.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department publishes quarterly statistics on statutory homelessness in England, which can be found on gov.uk here. The latest quarterly data was published on 22 July 2025, covering January to March 2025.
The number of under 18s in temporary accommodation in English local authorities is included in the data (TA8), including by age on a local authority level. Councils must ensure that temporary accommodation is suitable for the needs of the household and should keep the suitability of accommodation under review. The Homelessness Code of Guidance for local authorities sets out the factors to be taken into account when determining the suitability of accommodation..
The latest quarterly statistics includes additional data tables on the English regions that out of area placements have been made to, by the local authority or region that they have been placed from (TA9). The data does not provide a breakdown of the number of households with children. The Department does not collect address level data that would allow the tracking of the distance households have moved
The number of households in B&B accommodation with children and resident more than six weeks is included in the data (TA1).
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the age breakdown is of children over the age of ten in temporary accommodation; and what steps she is taking to help ensure that the accommodation is suitable for children.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department publishes quarterly statistics on statutory homelessness in England, which can be found on gov.uk here. The latest quarterly data was published on 22 July 2025, covering January to March 2025.
The number of under 18s in temporary accommodation in English local authorities is included in the data (TA8), including by age on a local authority level. Councils must ensure that temporary accommodation is suitable for the needs of the household and should keep the suitability of accommodation under review. The Homelessness Code of Guidance for local authorities sets out the factors to be taken into account when determining the suitability of accommodation..
The latest quarterly statistics includes additional data tables on the English regions that out of area placements have been made to, by the local authority or region that they have been placed from (TA9). The data does not provide a breakdown of the number of households with children. The Department does not collect address level data that would allow the tracking of the distance households have moved
The number of households in B&B accommodation with children and resident more than six weeks is included in the data (TA1).
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to help prevent victims of financial abuse being barred from bidding on social housing when in temporary accommodation because of debt accrued by their abuser.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is committed to ensuring that those who need to escape from domestic abuse are given as much support and assistance as possible so that they are able to re-build their lives away from abuse and harm.
On 24 September, the Prime Minister announced an ambition to better support victims of domestic abuse to access housing. Regulations, which came into force on 10 July, mean that victims of domestic abuse moving as a result of that abuse will no longer need to meet a local connection or residency test in order to access social housing.
Local authorities are able to use local flexibles to take account of individual as circumstances such as on debt and statutory guidance on social housing allocations makes clear that local authorities are expected to take proper account of special circumstances by making provision for appropriate exceptions. We keep our statutory guidance under review.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending statutory guidance to improve access to social housing for survivors of domestic abuse with debt living in temporary accommodation.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is committed to ensuring that those who need to escape from domestic abuse are given as much support and assistance as possible so that they are able to re-build their lives away from abuse and harm.
On 24 September, the Prime Minister announced an ambition to better support victims of domestic abuse to access housing. Regulations, which came into force on 10 July, mean that victims of domestic abuse moving as a result of that abuse will no longer need to meet a local connection or residency test in order to access social housing.
Local authorities are able to use local flexibles to take account of individual as circumstances such as on debt and statutory guidance on social housing allocations makes clear that local authorities are expected to take proper account of special circumstances by making provision for appropriate exceptions. We keep our statutory guidance under review.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to bring sections (a) 143 and (b) 144 of the Building Safety Act into force in the current parliament.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Section 144 of the Building Safety Act (2022) created a power to mandate a requirement for all new build homes to be sold with a new build warranty. No decision has been made by the government on commencement of this power.
In the meantime, most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term, while the developer is often held accountable for the first two years of this period.
In October 2024 the previous government published its response the Competition and Market's Authority's housebuilding study. This included a commitment to bring forward a new consumer code for housebuilders and a New Homes Ombudsman service which will empower homeowners to rightly challenge developers for any quality issues they face in their home which the current government is also committed to.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of levels of resourcing for Natural England on the use of developer levies collected through the Nature Restoration Fund for nature recovery.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working closely with Natural England to ensure that resources are in place to administer the Nature Restoration Fund, which is designed to run on a cost recovery basis.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much of the Affordable Homes Programme 2021 to 2026 grant funding has been spent; how many homes have been completed; and how many homes are under construction.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department published an update on targets in respect of the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme on 30 July 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here.
The GLA has shared targets for the programme in London on their website here.
Homes England set out their target for the programme outside of London in their annual report and accounts. These can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) homes and (b) affordable homes will be provided on completion by the buildings that have been waiting for Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator for more than 52 weeks.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was established by the previous Government and became the Building Control Authority for higher-risk buildings in England from October 1, 2023.
As with any newly established regulator it is typical that there will be a bedding in period as it develops its operations. As the industry adjusts to the new regulatory regime a lot of poor quality and incomplete applications have been submitted. The volume of sub-standard applications demands much of BSR's time and resources which has a knock-on effect on the processing time for all applications.
The majority of the 8 applications exceeding 52 weeks are transitional applications which were transferred into the building safety regime from private sector building control companies that ceased trading with construction already underway. As they were not started under the gateway regime developers have had to gather the evidence to demonstrate compliance with Gateway Two. In the meantime the BSR has allowed these projects to continue construction whilst demonstrating compliance with building regulations. These are unique cases which have arisen as part of the transition process and are therefore atypical.
Of the applications exceeding 12 and 26 weeks, these will be subject to agreed extensions of time between the BSR and developers. These are often required because the applications have failed to fully demonstrate how the building will comply with building regulations and more information is needed. This is a core responsibility of what the BSR was set up to do and ensures that new buildings meet the requisite safety standards that are set out in law.
Some delays to the processing of applications are due to capacity and efficiency issues that exist within the BSR which the new government is seeking to address. This Government has provided an additional £2.1 million to the BSR to engage additional staff to increase capacity which, alongside several efficiency initiatives, is seeing processing times reduce.
The Department continues to work with the BSR to monitor timescales and scrutinise progress. The safety of buildings remains a top priority for the department and the BSR, and legal safety requirements must be adhered to.
The data the BSR reports to the department does not categorise between homes and affordable homes. The following figures are for new build Higher Risk Buildings (HRBs), Non-HRB conversion to HRB and Category A refurbishments (where this refurbishment increases the number of residential units by 1 or more unit). Note that the figures are nested i.e. the 18,424 includes the 10,192 and the 912; and the 10,192 includes the 912.
The number of homes which will be provided on completion by the buildings that have been waiting for Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator for more than 52 weeks. | 912 residential units (8 applications) |
The number of homes which will be provided on completion by the buildings that have been waiting for Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator for more than 26 weeks. | 10,192 residential units (46 applications) |
The number of homes which will be provided on completion by the buildings that have been waiting for Gateway Two approval from the Building Safety Regulator for more than 12 weeks. | 18,424 residential units (85 applications) |
The estimate of the number of homes that would be created in buildings awaiting Gateway Two approval from the Building Safety Regulator. | 29,506 residential units (130 applications). These numbers include applications currently within the 0–12-week period. |