Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with Homes England on building accessible homes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Grant funding allocated through the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26, which is delivered by Homes England outside of London, can be used for supported housing, including specialist housing.
The government will shortly set out its policies on accessible new build housing, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to a safe, suitable home.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans to open the technical consultation on the M4(2) requirement in building regulations.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Housing is one of this government’s top priorities, everyone deserves to live in a decent home that is suitable for them and meets their needs.
The government will shortly set out its policies on accessible new build housing, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to a safe, suitable home.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure Homes England allocate appropriate funding for developments that provide new wheelchair accessible homes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Capital funding guidance for the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 sets out that certain categories of supported housing for older and disabled people should be built to be wheelchair accessible.
In July 2024, the government published targets for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme which confirmed that 5% of homes delivered in the programme will be for supported housing.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help support leaseholders living in buildings under 11 meters with cladding remediation works.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The responsibility for fixing historical cladding fire safety defects should rest with building owners. They should not pass these costs on to leaseholders but should seek to recover costs from those who were responsible for building unsafe homes.
The department reviews cases brought to its attention which includes engaging freeholders and managing agents to make sure that proposed works are necessary and proportionate.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Oral Statement of 26 February 2025 on Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 Report, Official Report, whether she plans to take steps to enforce personal emergency evacuation plans for disabled residents living in high-rise (a) social housing and (b) privately rented accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Residential personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for which my Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary currently retains responsibility until the Machinery of Government change comes into effect on 1 April will be introduced through legislation yet to be laid before Parliament. We expect that enforcing authorities under the Fire Safety Order, including Fire and Rescue Authorities, who have a duty to enforce Responsible Persons’ compliance with their duties will also enforce duties in relation to Residential PEEPs.
Under the Building Safety Act, Accountable Persons are required to assess and manage the building safety risks in their building. In doing this they are required to consider the impacts on residents, carry out engagement with residents, and set out in the Residents’ Engagement Strategy and Safety Case report the arrangements for how residents will respond to emergency situations, which can be expected to include the arrangements for putting in place and managing Residential PEEPs once required.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help prevent fraudulent fire safety certificates.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 27050 on 3 February 2025.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 take steps to raise the default minimum accessibility requirement to the M4(2) Accessible and Adaptable standard for all new residential buildings.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
I understand that accessibility in new homes, and accessibility standards for buildings in general, are an important concern. Housing is one of this Government’s top priorities, everyone deserves to live in a decent home in which they feel safe. We will set out our policies on accessible new build housing shortly.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to tackle high services charges for leaseholders in Battersea.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Government has set out its position on leasehold reform as part of the progress of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to bring forward an amendment to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill to ban forfeiture.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Government has set out its position on leasehold reform as part of the progress of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what support his Department is providing to leaseholders in Battersea who are facing service charges increases.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Government has set out its position on leasehold reform as part of the progress of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.