Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the number of (a) social and (b) affordable housing properties built by developers; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage more affordable housing to be built.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme will deliver thousands of affordable homes, both for rent and to buy, right across the country.
The Levelling Up White Paper committed to increasing the supply of social rented homes, and a large number of the new homes delivered through our Affordable Homes Programme will be for social rent.
The government is on track to deliver its target of building around 250,000 affordable homes through the Affordable Homes Programme.
Local planning authorities can secure addition contributions towards affordable housing through section 106 planning obligations.
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act contains powers for the Government to create a new mandatory, non-negotiable Infrastructure Levy which will aim to generate more funding for affordable housing and infra-structure to support sustainable development.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an estimate of the number and proportion of leaseholders that have declared bankruptcy after not qualifying for the leaseholder protections within the Building Safety Act 2022.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The department does not routinely collect data on bankruptcy or the reasons for them; we would welcome any specific concerns being raised directly should those with an interest in this policy area wish to do so.
It is important to note that there are multiple ways leaseholders can seek support in remediation. The Leasehold Advisory Service, funded by the department, provides free advice to leaseholders on legal matters.
Part 5 of the Building Safety Act 2022 allows any leaseholders, including those who are leaseholders in a building subject to collective enfranchisement, to apply to the First Tier Tribunal to seek a Remediation Contribution Order from a previous owner, developer or persons associated with either of these, for funds to remediate relevant defects (including non-cladding defects) in their buildings.
Leaseholders in buildings subject to collective enfranchisement can also seek to recover costs of non-cladding defects through the retrospectively extended limitation period under Section 1 of the Defective Premises Act. We have also extended the reach of civil liability to associated companies of developers and a new cause of action which allows manufacturers of construction products to be pursued.
Another possible course of action would be to consider recourse to litigation under the Defective Premises Act where costs may be recovered from those responsible for historical defects on the building if construction was completed on or after 28 June 1992 and a dwelling in the building is unfit for habitation.
The Government published a call for evidence on leaseholder-owned buildings, which closed on 14 November 2022. We are carefully considering the evidence, which will help inform Government policy on how best to protect the leaseholders in leaseholder-owned buildings from the impact of building safety defects. This evidence has informed the policy thinking which resulted in the inclusion of building safety measures to further strengthen Remediation Contribution Orders in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
The department does not hold data on the average value of the portfolios of leaseholders who own more than three properties. The department issued a call for evidence on 21 March 2024 to assess the impact of the leaseholder protections where a leasehold property is owned by two or more individuals. The Call for Evidence closed on 5 April 2024.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department issues guidance on the rights of residents living in buildings over 11 meters in height consisting both freeholders and leaseholders.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The department does not routinely collect data on bankruptcy or the reasons for them; we would welcome any specific concerns being raised directly should those with an interest in this policy area wish to do so.
It is important to note that there are multiple ways leaseholders can seek support in remediation. The Leasehold Advisory Service, funded by the department, provides free advice to leaseholders on legal matters.
Part 5 of the Building Safety Act 2022 allows any leaseholders, including those who are leaseholders in a building subject to collective enfranchisement, to apply to the First Tier Tribunal to seek a Remediation Contribution Order from a previous owner, developer or persons associated with either of these, for funds to remediate relevant defects (including non-cladding defects) in their buildings.
Leaseholders in buildings subject to collective enfranchisement can also seek to recover costs of non-cladding defects through the retrospectively extended limitation period under Section 1 of the Defective Premises Act. We have also extended the reach of civil liability to associated companies of developers and a new cause of action which allows manufacturers of construction products to be pursued.
Another possible course of action would be to consider recourse to litigation under the Defective Premises Act where costs may be recovered from those responsible for historical defects on the building if construction was completed on or after 28 June 1992 and a dwelling in the building is unfit for habitation.
The Government published a call for evidence on leaseholder-owned buildings, which closed on 14 November 2022. We are carefully considering the evidence, which will help inform Government policy on how best to protect the leaseholders in leaseholder-owned buildings from the impact of building safety defects. This evidence has informed the policy thinking which resulted in the inclusion of building safety measures to further strengthen Remediation Contribution Orders in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
The department does not hold data on the average value of the portfolios of leaseholders who own more than three properties. The department issued a call for evidence on 21 March 2024 to assess the impact of the leaseholder protections where a leasehold property is owned by two or more individuals. The Call for Evidence closed on 5 April 2024.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to help support enfranchised leaseholders living in buildings taller than 11 meters with the costs of remediating non-cladding building safety defects.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The department does not routinely collect data on bankruptcy or the reasons for them; we would welcome any specific concerns being raised directly should those with an interest in this policy area wish to do so.
It is important to note that there are multiple ways leaseholders can seek support in remediation. The Leasehold Advisory Service, funded by the department, provides free advice to leaseholders on legal matters.
Part 5 of the Building Safety Act 2022 allows any leaseholders, including those who are leaseholders in a building subject to collective enfranchisement, to apply to the First Tier Tribunal to seek a Remediation Contribution Order from a previous owner, developer or persons associated with either of these, for funds to remediate relevant defects (including non-cladding defects) in their buildings.
Leaseholders in buildings subject to collective enfranchisement can also seek to recover costs of non-cladding defects through the retrospectively extended limitation period under Section 1 of the Defective Premises Act. We have also extended the reach of civil liability to associated companies of developers and a new cause of action which allows manufacturers of construction products to be pursued.
Another possible course of action would be to consider recourse to litigation under the Defective Premises Act where costs may be recovered from those responsible for historical defects on the building if construction was completed on or after 28 June 1992 and a dwelling in the building is unfit for habitation.
The Government published a call for evidence on leaseholder-owned buildings, which closed on 14 November 2022. We are carefully considering the evidence, which will help inform Government policy on how best to protect the leaseholders in leaseholder-owned buildings from the impact of building safety defects. This evidence has informed the policy thinking which resulted in the inclusion of building safety measures to further strengthen Remediation Contribution Orders in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
The department does not hold data on the average value of the portfolios of leaseholders who own more than three properties. The department issued a call for evidence on 21 March 2024 to assess the impact of the leaseholder protections where a leasehold property is owned by two or more individuals. The Call for Evidence closed on 5 April 2024.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his planned timetable is to respond to the call for evidence entitled Leaseholder-owned buildings (11m+ or 5 storeys+).
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The department does not routinely collect data on bankruptcy or the reasons for them; we would welcome any specific concerns being raised directly should those with an interest in this policy area wish to do so.
It is important to note that there are multiple ways leaseholders can seek support in remediation. The Leasehold Advisory Service, funded by the department, provides free advice to leaseholders on legal matters.
Part 5 of the Building Safety Act 2022 allows any leaseholders, including those who are leaseholders in a building subject to collective enfranchisement, to apply to the First Tier Tribunal to seek a Remediation Contribution Order from a previous owner, developer or persons associated with either of these, for funds to remediate relevant defects (including non-cladding defects) in their buildings.
Leaseholders in buildings subject to collective enfranchisement can also seek to recover costs of non-cladding defects through the retrospectively extended limitation period under Section 1 of the Defective Premises Act. We have also extended the reach of civil liability to associated companies of developers and a new cause of action which allows manufacturers of construction products to be pursued.
Another possible course of action would be to consider recourse to litigation under the Defective Premises Act where costs may be recovered from those responsible for historical defects on the building if construction was completed on or after 28 June 1992 and a dwelling in the building is unfit for habitation.
The Government published a call for evidence on leaseholder-owned buildings, which closed on 14 November 2022. We are carefully considering the evidence, which will help inform Government policy on how best to protect the leaseholders in leaseholder-owned buildings from the impact of building safety defects. This evidence has informed the policy thinking which resulted in the inclusion of building safety measures to further strengthen Remediation Contribution Orders in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
The department does not hold data on the average value of the portfolios of leaseholders who own more than three properties. The department issued a call for evidence on 21 March 2024 to assess the impact of the leaseholder protections where a leasehold property is owned by two or more individuals. The Call for Evidence closed on 5 April 2024.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an estimate of the average portfolio value of leaseholders that own more than three properties.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The department does not routinely collect data on bankruptcy or the reasons for them; we would welcome any specific concerns being raised directly should those with an interest in this policy area wish to do so.
It is important to note that there are multiple ways leaseholders can seek support in remediation. The Leasehold Advisory Service, funded by the department, provides free advice to leaseholders on legal matters.
Part 5 of the Building Safety Act 2022 allows any leaseholders, including those who are leaseholders in a building subject to collective enfranchisement, to apply to the First Tier Tribunal to seek a Remediation Contribution Order from a previous owner, developer or persons associated with either of these, for funds to remediate relevant defects (including non-cladding defects) in their buildings.
Leaseholders in buildings subject to collective enfranchisement can also seek to recover costs of non-cladding defects through the retrospectively extended limitation period under Section 1 of the Defective Premises Act. We have also extended the reach of civil liability to associated companies of developers and a new cause of action which allows manufacturers of construction products to be pursued.
Another possible course of action would be to consider recourse to litigation under the Defective Premises Act where costs may be recovered from those responsible for historical defects on the building if construction was completed on or after 28 June 1992 and a dwelling in the building is unfit for habitation.
The Government published a call for evidence on leaseholder-owned buildings, which closed on 14 November 2022. We are carefully considering the evidence, which will help inform Government policy on how best to protect the leaseholders in leaseholder-owned buildings from the impact of building safety defects. This evidence has informed the policy thinking which resulted in the inclusion of building safety measures to further strengthen Remediation Contribution Orders in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
The department does not hold data on the average value of the portfolios of leaseholders who own more than three properties. The department issued a call for evidence on 21 March 2024 to assess the impact of the leaseholder protections where a leasehold property is owned by two or more individuals. The Call for Evidence closed on 5 April 2024.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether regulations are in place to ensure that reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete is not used in the future building of (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) public sector buildings.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The manufacture and sale of RAAC panels is covered by construction products regulations 2013 by the designated standard BS EN 12602:2016. Buildings undergoing “building work” must meet the safety and performance requirements in the building regulations no matter how they are constructed or what materials are used, including RAAC.
The Institute of Structural Engineers (IStructE) advise that RAAC can be an appropriate construction material if properly designed, manufactured, installed, and maintained, though they understand that use in UK has declined since 1990.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many applications to the Building Safety Fund have been rejected (a) in the initial phase from July 2020 (b) since the Fund reopened in July 2022.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
As at 29 February 2024, there have been 3,628 buildings that have applied to the Building Safety Fund. Of these, 3,488 buildings applied in the first tranche of opening and 140 applied in the second tranche of opening. Of the total that applied: 1,096 are ineligible – 1,089 are from the first tranche of opening and seven are from the second tranche. Further information about the status of buildings can be found at the following link.
The Cladding Safety Scheme via Homes England provides details on allocated spend for each building. Since its launch in July, it has interacted with over 1,000 buildings. 450 are currently engaging with the application process, carrying out technical reports to enable eligibility assessment. Within its first nine months, 170 buildings have been deemed eligible via technical assessment and can now progress with the relevant support and funding to procure construction contracts and start remediation works. To date, £28.25 million has been provided for this work to take place. To be allocated further funding, eligible applicants need to procure the works required and submit a package of funding for approval. We are awaiting the outcome of this procurement activity in the market for 165 buildings to enable the next steps to be taken. The five applicants where their works have been approved amount to an allocation of £11 million.
As at 29 February 2024, there are no buildings being monitored exclusively by the ACM programme and there are 15 buildings being monitored exclusively by the BSF programme that are having non-cladding defects remediated under the developer remediation contract. In addition, there are two buildings which are being monitored by both schemes. We do not have an estimate for the number of buildings in the ACM programme and BSF that are having non-cladding remediation works undertaken outside of the developer remediation contract.
Information on enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise residential buildings under the Housing Act 2004 by buildings in: i) the ACM programme, ii) the BSF programme and iii) neither programme, is published in table Enforcement_1 of the monthly data release.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many applications to the Building Safety Fund there were (a) in the initial phase from July 2020 and (b) since it reopened in July 2022.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
As at 29 February 2024, there have been 3,628 buildings that have applied to the Building Safety Fund. Of these, 3,488 buildings applied in the first tranche of opening and 140 applied in the second tranche of opening. Of the total that applied: 1,096 are ineligible – 1,089 are from the first tranche of opening and seven are from the second tranche. Further information about the status of buildings can be found at the following link.
The Cladding Safety Scheme via Homes England provides details on allocated spend for each building. Since its launch in July, it has interacted with over 1,000 buildings. 450 are currently engaging with the application process, carrying out technical reports to enable eligibility assessment. Within its first nine months, 170 buildings have been deemed eligible via technical assessment and can now progress with the relevant support and funding to procure construction contracts and start remediation works. To date, £28.25 million has been provided for this work to take place. To be allocated further funding, eligible applicants need to procure the works required and submit a package of funding for approval. We are awaiting the outcome of this procurement activity in the market for 165 buildings to enable the next steps to be taken. The five applicants where their works have been approved amount to an allocation of £11 million.
As at 29 February 2024, there are no buildings being monitored exclusively by the ACM programme and there are 15 buildings being monitored exclusively by the BSF programme that are having non-cladding defects remediated under the developer remediation contract. In addition, there are two buildings which are being monitored by both schemes. We do not have an estimate for the number of buildings in the ACM programme and BSF that are having non-cladding remediation works undertaken outside of the developer remediation contract.
Information on enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise residential buildings under the Housing Act 2004 by buildings in: i) the ACM programme, ii) the BSF programme and iii) neither programme, is published in table Enforcement_1 of the monthly data release.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department's Building Safety Remediation: monthly data release - February 2024, published on 21 March 2024, what proportion of enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise buildings under the Housing Act 2004 relates to buildings that are not supported by any remediation funding scheme.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
As at 29 February 2024, there have been 3,628 buildings that have applied to the Building Safety Fund. Of these, 3,488 buildings applied in the first tranche of opening and 140 applied in the second tranche of opening. Of the total that applied: 1,096 are ineligible – 1,089 are from the first tranche of opening and seven are from the second tranche. Further information about the status of buildings can be found at the following link.
The Cladding Safety Scheme via Homes England provides details on allocated spend for each building. Since its launch in July, it has interacted with over 1,000 buildings. 450 are currently engaging with the application process, carrying out technical reports to enable eligibility assessment. Within its first nine months, 170 buildings have been deemed eligible via technical assessment and can now progress with the relevant support and funding to procure construction contracts and start remediation works. To date, £28.25 million has been provided for this work to take place. To be allocated further funding, eligible applicants need to procure the works required and submit a package of funding for approval. We are awaiting the outcome of this procurement activity in the market for 165 buildings to enable the next steps to be taken. The five applicants where their works have been approved amount to an allocation of £11 million.
As at 29 February 2024, there are no buildings being monitored exclusively by the ACM programme and there are 15 buildings being monitored exclusively by the BSF programme that are having non-cladding defects remediated under the developer remediation contract. In addition, there are two buildings which are being monitored by both schemes. We do not have an estimate for the number of buildings in the ACM programme and BSF that are having non-cladding remediation works undertaken outside of the developer remediation contract.
Information on enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise residential buildings under the Housing Act 2004 by buildings in: i) the ACM programme, ii) the BSF programme and iii) neither programme, is published in table Enforcement_1 of the monthly data release.