Housing ministers’ musical chairs continue at Levelling Up department

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Junior Housing Minister Felicity Buchan (main picture) has been tasked with overseeing the private rented sector, taking over from Lee Rowley in the latest instalment of ministerial musical chairs.

Rowley (pictured), who was appointed the 12th housing minister in September, is now responsible for local government and building safety after barely two months with responsibility for the PRS. He replaced Eddie Hughes at the DLUHC on 7th September and faced some criticism that he was too inexperienced to hold the housing brief.

Buchan only got the job on 30th October but has already faced MPs in a Commons debate on the Renters’ Reform White Paper and a select committee where she continued to give very little away about the details of the proposed legislation and possible introduction date. She must also deal with hot topics including leasehold reform and the ongoing cladding scandal.

Latest MP

Last month, Lucy Frazer (pictured, below)became the latest MP to join returning boss Michael Gove in the department and is the other junior minister in charge of housing, tasked with focusing on overall strategy, house building and homeownership.

Other senior colleagues in the department are Dehenna Davison, minister for levelling up, and Baroness Scott of Bybrook, minister for communities. Following the appointment of Rishi Sunak, colleagues Andrew Stephenson, whose remit at the DLUHC included social housing, became government whip at the Treasury, while Paul Scully, who was building safety minister, moved to a new role at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Renewed calls for more permanent faces at the department and a stop to the ‘revolving door’ greets each new appointment; Frazer is the ninth minister with responsibility for housing in the last five years and the 14th since the 2010 general election.

More about the revolving door.

View Full Article: Housing ministers’ musical chairs continue at Levelling Up department

Minister promises to ask ‘searching questions’ about Scots rent rise and evictions freeze

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The Scottish government has vowed that an upcoming review will ask searching questions about the current repossession grounds in the wake of its emergency soc-called rent rise and evictions freeze.

Speaking on the Scottish Housing News podcast, tenants’ rights minister Patrick Harvie (main image) said the review would also look at the issue of how – under the rent freeze and eviction ban – a lender who takes ownership of a property after a landlord goes bust, can evict sitting tenants.

He explained that although this could not be addressed under emergency legislation, it could be considered in the Housing Bill which is due in 2023.

Pleasantly surprised

Harvie said he believed the sector had been pleasantly surprised at protections put in place for landlords, such as being given the opportunity to repossess a home if they needed to sell or move in because of their own hardship.

“We didn’t say no evictions because…it’s not in the interest of either landlord or tenant to build up arrears,” said Harvie. “They may need direct financial support, otherwise some tenants might stop paying rent altogether.”

But he added concerns about possible immediate rent increases had led it not to consult before making the announcement.

“It would have done more harm than good. Sadly, there have been those who have been trying to abuse the current power imbalance – we felt it was essential to give tenants protection from that.”

Harvie said the government would judge the current rent freeze and evictions bans – based on economic circumstances – to decide whether it could justify their suspension, expiry, continuation or whether it should operate differently in the PRS and social sectors.

Read a complete guide to evictions.

View Full Article: Minister promises to ask ‘searching questions’ about Scots rent rise and evictions freeze

Decent Homes Standard will achieve little without funded enforcement, agents warn

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Letting agents have warned that the Government’s Decent Homes Standard plans for England will be pointless unless councils have the resources to enforce the new rules.

A Decent Homes Standard, which will require all private landlords to attain minimum standards of quality for their properties or face criminal charges, was included within the recent ‘Fairer Renting’ white paper. This in turn is expected to form the looming but much-delayed Renters Reform Bill.

Propertymark says many struggle to enforce the current standards within the private rented sector, never mind any new responsibilities, which will be difficult to manage without more money to fund it – which is unlikely to be forthcoming in the current financial climate.

Instead, Propertymark says a better approach would be prevention rather than prosecution including more information and support for landlords along with national and consistent national guidelines.

Letting agents say enforcement of existing rules can be inconsistent between different areas, and that any new legislation must give tenants as well as landlords new responsibilities – often properties are in a poor condition due to tenant neglect or poor behaviour particularly when mould s the problem.#

Immense strain

“It’s hard to find a reason not to support greater standards for homes within the private rented sector,” says Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark (pictured).

“Tenants should expect a certain standard when renting from any agent. The Decent Homes Standard creates a level playing field that our members will appreciate as they already go above and beyond what is expected of them.

“That being said, the DLUHC needs to understand the immense strain local authorities are facing when delivering their current duties regarding existing standards.

“Sufficient resources and commitment will be required to ensure consistent and regular enforcement of the Decent Homes Standard.”

Read Propertymark’s submission to the Decent Homes Standard consultation.

View Full Article: Decent Homes Standard will achieve little without funded enforcement, agents warn

Decent Homes Standard in the PRS needs to be fully resourced

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Propertymark has responded to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) consultation on the Decent Homes Standard in England by offering clarity on how to deliver greater parity between the social and private rented sectors.

The organisation says that its response will help ensure landlords who do not treat their tenants fairly are held accountable.

View Full Article: Decent Homes Standard in the PRS needs to be fully resourced

Paragon Bank unveils market-leading five-year fixed rate BTL mortgage

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Paragon Bank has unveiled a market-leading five-year fixed rate buy-to-let mortgage with a reduced reference rate.

The mortgage is available at 70% loan-to-value (LTV) with an initial rate priced at 5.69%. The product is subject to a 2.00% product fee and features a free mortgage valuation.

View Full Article: Paragon Bank unveils market-leading five-year fixed rate BTL mortgage