Grenfell Housing Ministers Get Honours

Two former housing ministers tainted by Grenfell have been honoured by former Prime Minister Theresa May. Gavin Barwell gets a Peerage and Brandon Lewis a CBE. Both Barwell – whose ducking of questions outside 10 Downing street was a defining image of Grenfell’s aftermath – and Lewis were warned in the Commons they could “potentially be in the dock for corporate manslaughter”, with their inaction making the government culpable in the disaster. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/grenfell-housing-ministers-get-honours/

'Councils Should Get First Refusal On EVERY Home Up For Sale In Britain'

An ally of Jeremy Corbyn has said all private homes should be 'nationalised' by giving town halls the right to buy them. Hard-left Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle told a rally that council bosses should be given the power of first refusal on houses up for sale. The plans would see swathes of privately-owned property being taken into public control. In response, Tory chairman Brandon Lewis tweeted: 'Even your home is not safe from Labour now.' Read more on the Mailonline website.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6352505/Labour-MP-Lloyd-Russell-Moyle-wants-nationalise-homes.html

Tories Reveal Their Big Housing Reform - The Home Information Pack

The Conservatives have revealed the idea behind their manifesto pledge to “reform and modernise the home-buying process so it is more efficient and less costly” - and it’s a new version of the Home Information Packs. Michael Gove told the BBC: “One of the things we can revisit is Home Information Packs.” Just over a year ago the then-housing minister Brandon Lewis inserted an amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill which many interpreted as Home Information Packs being resuscitated. They have in the past year been associated with various efforts by the Cameron and May governments to call for evidence into transaction fall-throughs - but the Gove revelation was the most explicit suggestion yet that HIPs are returning. Read more on the Estate Agent Today website.

Council Housing: Sales - Parliamentary Written Answer

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost of processing and validating local authority data on the sale of higher value

council homes.

Brandon Lewis: To cover the cost of providing the data about housing stock, we made a one-off grant payment of £5,000 to each local authority with a Housing Revenue Account. No estimate has been made about the ongoing cost of keeping this data up-to-date. The processing and validating of the data is being carried out by departmental officials as part of policy development.

Brandon Lewis Issues Eviction Warning To Councils

The Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis, has written to all local councils in England to underline government guidance on the advice that councils give to tenants when seeking re-housing on the grounds of “homelessness” when faced with an eviction notice. The landlord associations have been lobbying the Minister for some time about what they see as erroneous guidance given by many local councils to tenants when they are seeking re-housing.  Many landlords have been reporting for some time that an alarming number of private tenants are being told by their local council to ignore eviction notices served by their landlords. They are often told to stay-put until bailiffs to turn up before moving out, otherwise they will not qualify for housing assistance and rehousing support. Read more on the Landlord Zone website.

Private Rented Housing: Housing Benefit – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to help people in receipt of housing benefit secure private rented accommodation.

Brandon Lewis: The English Housing Survey, funded by the Department, published its Headline Report 2014-15 in February which showed that 27% of privately rented households are in receipt of housing benefit. This demonstrates that the private rented sector remains accessible to housing benefit claimants. The key to improving choice and affordability for tenants is to increase the supply of private rented homes. That’s why the Government introduced the £1 billion Build to Rent fund, and the £3.5 billion Private Rented Sector guarantee scheme, to finance thousands of extra homes built specifically for private rent.

Right to Buy Scheme - Parliamentary Written Answer

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that a home is built to replace every house sold through the Right to Buy scheme.

Brandon Lewis: Under the reinvigorated Right to Buy we are firmly committed to making sure that for every additional home sold an additional one will be provided. There is a rolling 3 year deadline for local authorities to deliver additional affordable homes through new build or acquisition under the reinvigorated Right to Buy, and so far they have delivered well within sales profile. By March 2013 after the first year of reinvigoration there had been 3,054 additional sales and by December 2015 there had been 4,594 starts and acquisitions, meaning councils are delivering within this 3 year profile.

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mr Roger Godsiff:  To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether housing association tenants who part-buy their properties under shared ownership will be able to use Right To Buy to purchase either a share or all of that property.

Brandon Lewis: As is the case with the existing Right to Buy, the agreement with housing associations and the National Housing Federation to extend Right to Buy discounts to housing association tenants will not apply to those people who already own a share in their home, including those who purchased their home under shared ownership.

Right to Buy Scheme – Parliamentary Written Answer

Alan Johnson:  To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has spent on sending out information on the Right to Buy scheme to people who are not housing association or council tenants.

Brandon Lewis: Total spend on direct marketing from 2012 is £280,773 in 2012/13, £334,163 in 2013/14, £329,165 in 23014/15 and £195,757 to date in 2015/16. The 2015/16 figure does not include final costs for the most recent wave of direct marketing that took place in February 2016.

Housing Minister Writes To Councils Over Evictions Advice

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis has written to all local councils in England in order to clarify homelessness guidance. It follows research earlier this year that showed an alarming number of private tenants are being told by their local council to ignore eviction notices served by their landlords – and to wait for bailiffs to turn up before moving out – in order to qualify for rehousing support. The NLA has consistently warned that the advice was increasingly being offered because councils refuse to accept tenants’ housing applications before an order for possession has been granted by a Court, despite guidance from Central Government that confirms all housing applications should be accepted from the time notice is served on the tenant.  Read what the Minister has to say on the NLA website.

Private Rented Housing – Parliamentary Written Answer

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure private landlords do not exploit vulnerable tenants.

Brandon Lewis: We are determined to crack down on the small number of landlords that let unsafe and sub-standard accommodation. The Housing and Planning Bill will establish tough new measures, including a database of rogue landlords and property agents, banning orders for serious or repeat offenders, a stricter fit and proper person test, extending Rent Repayment Orders and introducing civil penalties of up to £30,000. In addition, we have made nearly £12 million available to local authorities to help them tackle rogue landlords in their areas. Since 2011, nearly 40,000 inspections have taken place with over 3,000 landlords facing further enforcement action or prosecution through renting out unsafe, squalid and often illegal property.

Council Housing: Security of Tenure – Parliamentary Written Answer

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods:   To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether it is his policy that his Department's changes to security of tenure for council tenants will apply to (a) the tenancies of existing tenants and (b) existing tenants when they transfer to a new local authority property; and when he plans that those changes will come into effect.

Brandon Lewis: The changes will not apply to existing lifetime tenants who remain in their own home. If tenants are required to move home by their landlord, for example to allow demolition and regeneration work to take place, they will be granted a tenancy with no less security in their new home. Where existing lifetime tenants seek to transfer, local authorities will retain a discretion to offer the tenant a further lifetime tenancy in their new home. We will set out the circumstances in which local authorities may exercise this discretion in regulations. We expect these will include where tenants downsize into a smaller home or move for work. We expect that the provisions will come into force early next year, subject to passage of the Bill and implementation of the regulations.

Heseltine Launches Panel Of Experts To Kick-Start Estates Regeneration

New tenants rights will be at the heart of the regeneration of some of the country’s most deprived estates, according to Lord Heseltine. A panel  will look at how the layout of estates can be best used to deliver more quality homes that people can buy and rent. The experts will also ensure that there are strong protections in place for existing residents so they will always be given the right to return to their communities. The 17-strong group, co-chaired by Lord Heseltine and Housing Minister Brandon Lewis and reporting to the Prime Minister and Communities Secretary Greg Clark, will develop a national estate regeneration strategy and work with up to 100 estates to tackle deprivation and transform them into vibrant communities. Read more on the CLG website.

Councils Must Keep A Register Of People Interested In Self-Build

From April, councils will be required to maintain a register of people who want to build their own home, the housing minister, Brandon Lewis has announced. The register, compiled as part of the process of planning for future housing and land use, is intended to make it easier for those interested in self- or custom-build to find plots of land to realise their ambition. Guidance for the new measure has been put in place to “clearly set out” the procedure local authorities will have to take when people wish to register their interest for a plot of land. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Private Rented Housing: Repairs and Maintenance – Parliamentary Written Answer

Greg Mulholland:  To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on empowering tenants in the private rented sector to ensure landlords carry out reasonable repairs.

Brandon Lewis: On 1 February 2016 we issued a new Model Tenancy Agreement and updated our How to Rent Guide which makes clear landlord responsibilities in terms of carrying out repairs. The vast majority of landlords in the private rented sector provide good quality and well managed accommodation. We know that 84% of private renters are satisfied with their accommodation, and stay in their homes for an average of 3 and a half years. If a tenant feels that the property they are renting is unsafe, and the landlord fails to get the necessary repairs done, they should contact their local authority which has powers, under the Housing Act 2004, to assess the risks and hazards.

Government Puts Hundreds Of Acres Of Land Up For Sale

The government has published details of 600 acres of surplus public sector land as part of its drive to deliver tens of thousands of new homes and boost local growth. Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said it was further proof that the government was getting the country building again and urged developers to seize the opportunity and build the homes hard-working people want and deserve. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has more than 80 public land sites for sale and will bring a further 40 more sites to market over the next 18 months, providing a boost to local economies and a significant return to the taxpayer.  It is estimated these sites will support more than 5,000 homes as well as land for industry and business. Over 20% of the sites already have outline or detailed planning permission. Read more on the CLG website.

Funding Increase For Councils To Crack Down On ‘Cowboy’ Landlords

Councils will receive a £5m boost to help them tackle rogue landlords in their area, Housing Minister Brandon Lewis has announced. The extra money will be divided between 48 councils in order to provide them with the means to take on landlords who force tenants to live in squalid and dangerous properties. The funding will allow for more raids, an increase in property inspections, statutory notices, and street surveys. It will also pay for the demolishing of ‘beds in sheds’ and prohibited buildings. The new funding will be included in a raft of proposals designed to protect private renters in the Housing and Planning Bill. Read more on the Local Government website.

Housing Estates – Parliamentary Written Answer

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release of 10 January 2016 entitled, Prime Minister pledges to transform sink estates, if he will make an assessment of the value of house prices on those estates planned for removal or regeneration.

Brandon Lewis: The new Estate Regeneration Advisory Panel will be starting its work shortly, and will be seeking representations from as many estates as possible. The Panel will evaluate the potential for the regeneration of particular estates over the coming months, and will report by this year’s Autumn Statement. Any estates proposed for regeneration will need to take into account the value of properties and development viability considerations.

Affordable Housing: Construction – Parliamentary Written Answer

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the announcement of 4 January 2016, on which 500 new sites the Government plans to directly build affordable homes, at least 30,000 new starter homes and up to 30,000 market homes by 2020.

Brandon Lewis: The Government expects to secure at least 500 sites for starter homes through the use of the new £1.2 billion starter home land fund. These sites will be identified over the next three years, working closely with local planning authorities and developers. Further details about the operation of the fund will be announced in due course.

Social Rented Housing: Overcrowding – Parliamentary Written Answer

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of homes in the social rented sector have been classified as overcrowded in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: The Department publishes estimates of the numbers and proportions of homes in the social rented sector that have been classified as overcrowded. The proportion was estimated as 7.3% in 2010/11 and as 6.2% in 2013/14. These figures are from the English Housing Survey.