Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that Business Improvement Districts play an active roll in encouraging the return of footfall to the high street after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Simon Clarke
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have a significant role to play in regeneration of high streets and towns across England and their role will be even more important in the recovery phase from the current crisis.
We have announced changes to BID legislation, to delay BIDS’ ballots between now and 31 December 2020 by extending the BID arrangements until 31 March 2021, allowing businesses to focus on recovery from economic shock before deciding whether to participate in BID arrangements for the following five-year period.
We are currently exploring other ways we can support BIDs directly, but their business communities will benefit from the substantial package of direct support to businesses already announced by the Chancellor.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of a planning moratorium for the next 12 weeks.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government has put in place a package of measures that will help keep firms in business and people in jobs and prevent Covid-19 from causing long-lasting economic harm. It is important that local planning authorities continue to provide the best service possible in these stretching times and prioritise decision-making to ensure the planning system continues to function, especially where this will support the local economy.
We are asking local planning authorities to take an innovative approach and explore every opportunity to use technology to ensure that discussions and consultations can go ahead. We would encourage councils to consider delegating committee decisions where appropriate. The Government has introduced legislation to allow council committee meetings to be held virtually for a temporary period which we expect will allow planning committees to continue.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to protect people renting residential properties during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
On 18 March, we announced a radical package of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus. Emergency legislation has been taken forward as an urgent priority so that landlords will not be able to start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three-month period. As a result of these measures, no renter in private or social accommodation needs to be concerned about the threat of eviction.
More information on these plans can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/complete-ban-on-evictions-and-additional-protection-for-renters.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that permission fees and service charges are clearly explained to prospective leaseholders.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The Government is clear that prospective home buyers should have access to clear and accurate information on potential fees and charges. Individuals selling a leasehold property provide a ‘Leasehold Information Pack’ about their property to prospective purchasers and this contains information relating to the property, including on ground rents and service charges.
The Government has committed to introducing legislation to stop freeholders and managing agents from taking as long as they like and charging what they like for this information by ensuring these packs are provided to a fixed cost and timetable.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure the clear explanation of ground rent fees to prospective leaseholders.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The Government is clear that prospective home buyers should have access to clear and accurate information on potential fees and charges. Individuals selling a leasehold property provide a ‘Leasehold Information Pack’ about their property to prospective purchasers and this contains information relating to the property, including on ground rents and service charges.
The Government has committed to introducing legislation to stop freeholders and managing agents from taking as long as they like and charging what they like for this information by ensuring these packs are provided to a fixed cost and timetable.