Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the commencement of the Renters’ Rights Bill and the passage of associated secondary legislation, including any planned differences for the application of (a) new and (b) existing tenancies.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Following Royal Assent of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Government will implement the new system as soon as possible. The abolition of section 21 and the introduction of the new tenancy system will be applied to new and existing tenancies simultaneously. This approach will support tenants, landlords and agents to adjust to and understand the new rules, while making sure that tenants can benefit from the new system quickly. We will provide more details about our implementation plans and timetables during the passage of the Bill.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
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 issue hardship tests in the private rented sector before landlords can evict tenants.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
There are currently no plans to introduce hardship tests relating to eviction of tenants, outside of the existing ’undue hardship’ test in the Housing Act 1988.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of requiring landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties to a EPC C rating by 2030 on the finances of (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm and free from damp and mould. We have committed to bringing forward the regulations necessary to introduce Awaab’s Law in the Social Rented Sector this Autumn, and to consulting on and implementing a new Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. We will set out the costs and impacts of the relevant requirements alongside each consultation.
The Government’s Warm Homes Plan offers grants and low interest loans which support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other improvements. Social landlords are responsible for improvements to their properties to ensure they meet the required standards.
As we set out in July, details of future government investment in social and affordable housing will be brought forwards at the Spending Review.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the total (a) funding under the Build to Rent Fund and (b) finance supported from the Private Rented Sector Housing Debt Guarantee Scheme was; and what estimate she has made of the number of additional dwellings supported by these schemes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Build to Rent Fund provided over £606 million in debt financing to support the construction of 6,262 homes. The Fund closed in 2016, and all loans have now been repaid. The Private Rented Sector Guarantee Scheme has thus far supported the delivery of 7,660 Build to Rent homes, utilising c£1.5 billon of guarantees capacity.
We recognise that the Build to Rent sector plays an important role in driving up quality and delivering additional homes in the Private Rented Sector. We continue to offer support to new schemes alongside institutional investors and operators via the Levelling Up Home Building Fund.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5232, what (a) council and (b) mayoral elections are (i) scheduled and (ii) expected, subject to the passage of secondary legislation, to take place in May (A) 2025 and (B) 2026.
Answered by Jim McMahon
The department publishes our understanding of the years in which each council’s elections will be held. That list can be found here.
In accordance with legislation, councils are required to post notice of any election or by-election taking place which they administer, and this can be found on council websites.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 5232 on Local Government: Elections, whether her Department holds a list of (a) councils, (b) mayors and (c) combined authority mayors subject to elections in May 2025.
Answered by Jim McMahon
The department publishes our understanding of the years in which each council’s elections will be held. That list can be found here.
In accordance with legislation, councils are required to post notice of any election or by-election taking place which they administer, and this can be found on council websites.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of local authorities divesting their Local Government Pension Scheme assets from the oil and gas industry.
Answered by Jim McMahon
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) administering authorities are responsible for setting the investment strategy of their pension funds. Authorities must take investment decisions in the interests of their members and for the purpose of paying benefits.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5229 on Empty Property and Second Homes: Council Tax, whether she plans to publish a response to the consultation; and what her planned timetable is for bringing forward (a) secondary legislation and (b) updated guidance to local billing authorities.
Answered by Jim McMahon
Secondary legislation to introduce these regulations were laid before Parliament on 8 October and will come into effect from 1 April 2025. The Government intends to publish guidance prior to these regulations coming into effect.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many photographers her Department has hired as (a) staff and (b) contractors since since 4 July 2024; from what dates; and what estimate she has made of the annual cost of those photographers.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
As is the case already in other government departments, official photographers help to share the work of the department and ministers with the public. Photography and videography - for external use or on the department's corporate channels - can help to give the public and civil servants a greater sense of accessibility and transparency over the activities of government. Members of MHCLG’s communications team already demonstrate a broad range of written and digital / visual media skills to help communicate with the public, the media and stakeholders.
MHCLG does not currently employ a photographer on a part or full-time basis. The department has recently advertised a role within the Civil Service for a chief photographer (Grade 7).
We do not comment on individual staffing matters.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2024, to Question 2979, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Departmental Responsibilities, if she will list the job title of each member of the Policy and Strategy Unit.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Policy and Strategy Unit is comprised of two Deputy Directors, supported by a team of policy advisers and senior policy advisers. Staffing roles are in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration.