Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s September 2025 report entitled Brownfield Potential: Unlocking 1.5 Million Homes; and what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to bring such sites forward for development.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including the development of under-utilised land and buildings to meet the need for homes and other uses.
Through the revisions made to the NPPF on 12 December 2024 we broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas.
On 22 September 2024, the government published a ‘brownfield passport’ working paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land. This included exploring the role of national policy in setting minimum density expectations for certain types of locations, to support intensification in the right places. Utilising the feedback provided, we intend to consult this year on a new suite of national policies for decision making that will give effect to these proposals.
On 18 June 2025, my Department announced £5 billion of new capital grant funding for infrastructure and land. This funding will be administered by the new National Housing Delivery Fund, through which councils will be able to secure funding for prospective projects, to contribute to the Government’s priority of delivering 1.5 million homes.
We will consider the points made by the Campaign to Protect Rural England in their September 2025 report as we continue to develop our policy in this area.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate downsizing for social housing tenants under-occupying homes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government encourages the efficient use of existing housing stock.
When it comes to social housing, local authorities and housing associations are encouraged to support under-occupiers to transfer to smaller properties, including through mutual exchanges.
In the five-step plan for delivering a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing published on 2 July (which can be found on gov.uk here), the government set out its intention to review how effectively social housing providers use their properties, and explore ways to encourage movement within the sector through mutual exchanges (particularly where homes are overcrowded and under-occupied).
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
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 ensure that rent review tribunals have access to sector-specific data on market rents in retirement communities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Renters’ Rights Bill will enable tenants to challenge above-market rent increases through the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
The Tribunal has the relevant expertise to determine what the market rent should be and will be able to take into account the special characteristics of Integrated Retirement Communities in doing so.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
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 made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a process whereby the formal acceptance of a home purchase offer creates a legally binding contract between the buyer and the seller.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
We recognise that the home buying and selling process in England and Wales is inefficient and costly for consumers and professionals with one in three property transactions falling through. On 9 February, we announced that we are launching a series of projects to improve the availability of property information through digitalisation that will help towards reducing the number of transactions that fall through. We continue to review evidence from other jurisdictions, including on protections such as reservation agreements, as we consider next steps.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
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 (a) prevent and (b) protect victims of title fraud.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
HM Land Registry (HMLR) takes the issue of fraud extremely seriously and is always looking for ways to minimise the risk of property title fraud and to maintain the integrity of the land register. HMLR has a range of controls and processes in place that can highlight fraudulent activity.
HMLR’s specialist counter fraud teams focus on detection and prevention of fraud, working with the Cabinet Office, the Public Sector Fraud Authority and other government departments to stay ahead of new and emerging threats, sharing and implementing best practice. HMLR collaborates with law enforcement and regulators to assist with any investigations into property related fraud, safeguarding public trust and the integrity of the land register. HMLR is working with conveyancers to encourage them to use digital cryptographic ID checking as part of their professional responsibilities.
The Land Registration Act 2002 places a legal liability on HMLR to indemnify for losses resulting from errors or omissions in the register of title. This includes errors resulting from frauds perpetrated by third parties.
HMLR encourages all homeowners to sign up to alerts via their free, award-winning Property Alert service. Information about this can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
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 respond to the call for evidence entitled Jointly owned properties which closed on 7 April 2024.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government has no immediate plans to respond to the call for evidence launched by the previous administration entitled Jointly owned properties, and which closed on 7 April 2024. The Government is however reviewing how to better protect leaseholders from costs relating to building safety.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will review the fairness of the eligibility criteria for the activation of the Storm Henk Flood Recovery Framework for people who live in lead local flood authorities areas where fewer than 50 properties were flooded during that storm.
Answered by Simon Hoare
I extend my sympathy to all those affected by the impacts of Storm Henk, flooding is a devastating experience for anyone impacted.
Following flooding which took place in 2020, and considering feedback from areas impacted at that time, the framework’s eligibility criteria were reviewed and a move to holding the count at Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) level, rather than at district level was agreed for all future activations. For Storm Henk the 50 flooded properties at LLFA level figure was agreed by Ministers across the three Departments responsible for the Framework’s schemes who considered it to be appropriate and to uphold the principles that the FRF is based upon:
DLUHC have committed to reviewing the scheme in the spring.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the different limits under the Building Safety Act 2022 relating to historical safety remediation on the number of properties owned by (a) a company and (b) an individual.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Department has a range of guidance on the subject of fire remediation; guidance on the obligations on building owners under the Building Safety Act 2022 can be found here.
Where developers or building owners are not currently funding cladding remediation, the Government has accepted funding applications for the remediation of ACM and non-ACM cladding on high-rise residential buildings (buildings over 18 metres) from responsible entities. Should a company also qualify as a responsible entity, their application would be treated in the same way as other responsible entities.
Guidance on how to apply to the Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund for the remediation of ACM cladding can be found here.
Guidance on how to apply to the Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund for the remediation of ACM cladding can be found here.
Guidance on how to apply for the remediation of non-ACM cladding via the Building Safety Fund can be found here.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing support to local authorities to allow people to be housed with their pets in (a) emergency and (b) temporary accommodation.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
As set out in the Homelessness Code of Guidance housing authorities should be sensitive to the importance of pets to some applicants, particularly elderly people and rough sleepers who may rely on pets for companionship. Although it will not always be possible to make provision for pets, the Secretary of State recommends that housing authorities give careful consideration to this when making provision for applicants who wish to retain their pet.
The reforms within the Renters (Reform) Bill in relation to pets will apply to temporary accommodation within the private rented sector.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a nationwide scheme to allow people to top-up a prepayment card for use in public car parking facilities when they are unwilling or unable to make app based payments.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Parking is the responsibility of local authorities and it is for them to determine what is best for their own area. Whilst central government has no remit to intervene in their daily affairs, it does have an interest in how car parks are managed and recognises the important link between parking provision and the vitality of our high streets and town centres. The Secretary of State recently wrote to all local authorities in England setting out his expectations that parking services for which councils are responsible for remain accessible.
All local authorities have existing statutory duties to ensure that they do not discriminate in their decision making against older people or those with vulnerabilities. Local authorities should ensure that there are alternative provisions for parking payments available so that no part of society is digitally excluded.