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KEYWORD "Housing Secretary" - 100 RESULTS
Agents tell Rayner they’re key to new law applying to private renting

Propertymark is lobbying Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to suggest that letting agents have a vital role to...

30 August 2024

From: Breaking News

Government puts squeeze on key area to encourage more homes

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has written to one of the key areas he believes vital for achieving Labour’s house-building targets, calling...

29 August 2024

From: Breaking News

Rayner launches uncompromising planning framework changes

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has launched a comprehensive review of the National Planning Policy Framework. The objective is...

31 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Controversial ex-Housing Secretary to run for Conservative leader

Robert Jenrick, who was appointed Housing Secretary by Robert Jenrick in 2019, is to run for Tory party leader. During his time...

26 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Concern over Rental White Paper after latest political resignation

The resignation of Labour’s First Minister of Wales has raised alarm with Propertymark. Vaughan Gething quit yesterday after the Welsh Housing Secretary...

17 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Housing Secretary move directly led to senior Labour resignation

The Housing Secretary in the Welsh Government, Julie James, was one of several ministers to quit in yesterday's dramatic day of...

17 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Agents tell Rayner: we want agency regulation, mandatory qualifications

ARLA Propertymark and a number of other property industry bodies wants Housing Secretary Angela Rayner to regulate letting and sales agents. An...

15 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Rayner ditches ‘Levelling Up’ and is just Housing Secretary

The term “Levelling Up” - introduced by ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson - has been ditched by the new deputy Prime Minister,...

10 July 2024

From: Breaking News

New Housing Secretary named by Sir Kier Starmer

Angela Rayner has been appointed Levelling Up Secretary with responsibility for housing - a role she has in addition to being...

05 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour Housing Plans hitting the ground running after Thursday

If Labour wins Thursday’s General Election. expect three major housing announcements within a fortnight. That’s the exclusive claim from the Sunday Times...

02 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Agency worried over Rayner scrapping Section 21 “on day one”

A lettings agency which has given broad support to the Renters Reform Bill now says it’s concerned that shadow housing Secretary...

01 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour to ban bidding wars and high upfront rental payments

Labour has stepped up its programme clamping down on what it calls “unscrupulous landlords strangling growth.” Specifically this means ending bidding wars,...

20 June 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour’s big idea to shift first time buyers from rental sector

Labour is launching a new Freedom to Buy scheme to get 80,000 young people on the housing ladder, over the next...

07 June 2024

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty Challenge - Tories pledge 'no change' but will Labour follow?

The housing market has suddenly become a major part of the General Election campaign as a result of a challenge thrown...

07 June 2024

From: Breaking News

Warning To Labour - Rent Controls Just Won’t Work

If Labour plans to bring in rent controls they won’t work, a property association has warned.  The National Association of Property Buyers...

24 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Propertymark wants Labour to come clean on rent controls

Propertymark wants Labour to come clean on its rent control policy, as the party repeatedly flip-flops on the issue. The agents’ body...

22 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Airbnb Restrictions - Gove slammed by Labour-dominated council body

London councils have slammed government plans for regulating the short-term and holiday lets sector. In a letter to Housing Secretary Michael Gove,...

21 May 2024

From: Breaking News

What about Rental Reform? Labour puts issue on the back burner

Despite once claiming it would abolish Section 21 evictions “on its first day in office”, Labour appears to have gone cool...

17 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour split as MP defies party policy and calls for rent controls

A Labour MP is calling for rent controls to be introduced, with powers for councils to tweak them as they see...

17 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Michael Gove turns the safety screws on reluctant freeholders

The government has won a landmark legal challenge against a freeholder forcing it to fix serious building safety issues in a...

13 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Rent Controls - we’re unlikely to follow Scotland, says housing chief

The Housing Secretary in Wales says that nation is unlikely to follow the example of Scotland by introducing rent controls. At a...

30 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Backing for Ground Rent Cap being announced this week

An amendment is expected to be made by the government to its Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill. The Bill, put forward by...

23 April 2024

From: Breaking News

“Bold” new Labour reforms for private rental sector coming next month

An influential Labour website says a raft of proposed reforms for the private rental sector will be unveiled next month -...

08 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour pledge to build thousands of “rent control homes”

London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan says he will build 6,000 “affordable” rental homes by 2030 - with their rents capped. Khan, standing...

08 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Gove accused of dragging his feet over agent regulation

The all-party House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has urged the government to get on with establishing a regulator of...

22 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour has waded into the increasingly-fractious debate over the Renters Reform Bill. Activists in groups such as the Renters Reform Coalition and...

29 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Mould and Damp: Agents should act now, says Propertymark

Propertymark has used its website and link with a property inspection service to urge letting agents to work with private tenants...

26 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Short Lets Clampdown - More campaigners back Gove

Countryside campaigning charity CPRE has given a warm welcome to Michael Gove’s clampdown on short lets. Earlier this week Housing Secretary Michael...

23 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Beware 1% Deposits - Knight Frank lays into government

Knight Frank has taken the unusual step of suggesting a government proposal for the housing market is high-risk and could even...

23 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Gove’s Airbnb Crackdown - Criticism building

There’s growing anger over restrictions on private homeowners using their properties via Airbnb and other short let platforms. Earlier this week Housing...

21 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Radical changes to short let laws proposed by Michael Gove

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has this morning announced wholesale changes to planning and regulations surrounding short lets. His proposals include: - planning permission...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Short Lets Shake Up - Gove slammed for “political posturing”

The trade body representing short lets providers and support companies has reacted angrily to government proposals for a radical shake up. Housing...

19 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Housing Courts the best way to counter threat of S21 removal - claim

Propertymark is urging the Sunak government to introduce specialist housing courts with expert Judges who can expedite cases and create a...

15 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Purplebricks boss slams Tories in unexpected attack

While most agents remain relatively tight lipped about party politics, the chief executive of Purplebricks has said the Tories should take...

13 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill - MPs set to be bombarded by emails

A pressure group unhappy about lack of progress on the Renters Reform Bill wants MPs to be bombarded with complaint emails.  Over...

12 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Last-minute government U-turn on HMO regulation changes

The government has done a U-turn on its original policy to relax HMO regulations on private rental properties used by asylum...

08 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Tory ex-housing ministers at war over Rishi Sunak’s premiership

Two former housing ministers are at war with each other after an attack on Rishi Sunak’s premiership in today’s Daily Telegraph. Sir...

24 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Row over government bid to turn renters into first time buyers

Controversy surrounds a government idea - floated over the weekend - to allow renters to secure mortgages with just one per...

22 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Budget date revealed as Gove hints at new housing policies

The date has been set for the Spring Budget - the last before the General Election.  It’s to be on Wednesday March...

28 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour to ban bidding wars and offer new anti-social behaviour rules

A prominent housing market commentator says Labour would introduce a tougher version of the Renters Reform Bill if it forms the...

27 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Will 2024 see the end of private rental sector licensing?

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has given what some commentators have interpreted as a sign that private rental sector licensing from councils...

27 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Last Ditch Bid to save unpopular freeholds from Gove’s law change

Plans for leasehold reform face a major early stumbling block as analysis shows plans to retrospectively introduce a cap on ground...

20 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Scrapping Section 21 can’t come quickly enough, says charity

Homelessness charity Crisis says the long-standing government pledge to scrap Section 21 eviction powers can’t come soon enough. The charity has backed...

19 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Freeholders slammed by former Tory housing minister

Former housing minister Rachel Maclean - the victim of a shock sacking by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month - has...

15 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Government announces changes to Renters Reform Bill

Changes put forward to the Renters Reform Bill to crack down on rogue landlords, protect vulnerable residents and improve the safety of...

15 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Agents demand ground rent reform progress while consultation goes on

Propertymark wants Housing Secretary Michael Gove to continue with ground rent reforms for leaseholders following the launch of a consultation into this...

14 November 2023

From: Breaking News

New Housing Minister is ... a former housing minister

The new Housing Minister is Lee Rowley - who was a former housing minister during the short lived premiership of Liz Truss. Rowley...

13 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill is ideal chance to regulate agents says Propertymark

Propertymark has written to Housing Secretary Michael Gove to remind him of the importance of regulating letting and estate agents. The trade...

13 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Shock as Rent Controls backed by Judicial Review decision

There’s been widespread dismay in the industry as the outcome of a Judicial Review has backed the Scottish Government’s objective of...

03 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Agents want tax reforms on top of pledge to avoid rent controls

Propertymark has welcomed the pledge by Housing Secretary Michael Gove not to introduce rent controls in England. The trade body says such...

31 October 2023

From: Breaking News

No rent controls in England - government confirmation

Rent controls as currently in force in Scotland and under consideration in Wales will not be put into effect in England,...

25 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill passes Second Reading without a vote

MPs have given the Renters Reform Bill its Second Reading - a procedure which means it now continues into the Committee...

24 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Rayner’s Section 21 Reform must not kill private rental sector - warning

Propertymark has fired a broadside at Labour saying it must provide agents with a proper court system to handle evictions. Labour deputy leader...

10 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Rayner slams Tory rental “failures” but light on Labour policy details

Labour deputy leader and shadow housing secretary Angela Rayner has given her party’s conference an outline of future policy plans. She says:...

09 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Gove to be quizzed on Renters Reform Bill

Housing Secretary Michael Gove will address the main Conservative party Conference on Tuesday morning next week - but perhaps his most...

28 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Foot Off The Gas - boiler ban deadline may be eased

The Times is reporting that a delay to the controversial ban on gas boilers is being considered by the government as...

20 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Tory MPs blamed for delaying Renters Reform Bill

The Financial Times, using sources in the Parliamentary Conservative party, are blaming some Tory MPs for blocking the route of the...

18 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Gove tells agents to identify and remedy damp and mould issues

New directives issued by the government put the emphasis firmly on private landlords and their letting agents to take responsibility for...

11 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Abandoned Tenancies - agents press Gove for court solution

Propertymark is pressing Housing Secretary Michael Gove to adopt a housing court system to solve the problem of abandoned tenancies. The agents...

07 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Agency demands government clarity over new EPC rental targets

A leading property agency is demanding more certainty over new Energy Performance Certificate regulations.  Fisher German says the government should act now...

04 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Clampdown needed on Airbnb and other short lets - new demand

A body largely consisting of councils wants more controls over Airbnbs and other short lets - and it wants local authorities...

31 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Union urges government not to give in to private rental experts

The National Union of Students is urging the government not to give in to what it calls “exploitative” private rental sector...

30 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Ousted Green Party still arguing for rent controls in key battleground

The Green Party - which ran the Brighton and Hove council until being swept from office in May’s local elections -...

25 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Abandoned Tenancies - Gove lobbied to take urgent action

Housing Secretary Michael Gove is being lobbied to take urgent action over the growing problem of abandoned tenancies. Propertymark chief executive Nathan...

11 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Rishi Sunak hints at fundamental reform of EPC system

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has thrown his weight behind Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s proposals to delay deadlines for EPC improvements in...

27 July 2023

From: Breaking News

EPC targets threaten private rental sector if they are unchanged

Stricter proposals for energy efficiency under review by the government risk damaging the private rental sector if they remain unchanged. That’s the...

26 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Agents tell Gove they’re disappointed with housing pledges

Propertymark has branded the plans by Housing Secretary Michael Gove to increase housebuilding “disappointing”. Nathan Emerson, Propertymark chief executive, says: “The UK...

26 July 2023

From: Breaking News

EPC changes to rental properties to be ‘relaxed’ - Gove

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has this morning said his government should ‘relax the pace’ of EPC reforms expected from private landlords. In...

23 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill measures may be extended - BBC report

The BBC says discussions are underway to extend the Renters Reform Bill to specifically outlaw any rental listing banning families and benefit recipients...

06 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour turning its back on rent controls once and for all

It looks as if the Labour Party is turning its back on rent controls on England and Wales. In the past year...

29 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill - angry agent demands meeting with Michael Gove

A regional agent with 3,500 properties under management has written a long letter to Housing Secretary Michael Gove complaining about the...

27 June 2023

From: Breaking News

First sign of government U-turn on Renters Reform Bill

Propertymark says it’s spotted what may be the first sign of a U-turn on one aspect of the controversial Renters Reform...

26 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Agent in ‘stay calm’ plea to landlords with Bill worries

Private landlords should hold fire on plans to quit the private rental sector and give the government a chance to incentivise...

25 May 2023

From: Breaking News

MPs to receive letting agents’ briefing on Renters Reform Bill

Propertymark says it’s going to send a briefing on behalf of letting agents to every MP and member of the House...

23 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill - politicians demand series of extra restrictions

The co-leader of the Green Party wants the Renters Reform Bill to go further in restricting the powers of private landlords. Carla...

22 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill published - full details

The pro-tenant anti-landlord Renters Reform Bill has at last been published by the government which first promised it in 2019. It has...

17 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Pet Lovers and Renting Activists get lift up from Michael Gove

In a surprise move, Housing Secretary Michael Gove has given the stand-in leader of activist group Generation Rent a prime role...

17 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill - just a delay or a major rethink?

The government has back-tracked on its decision to publish the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill this week. The Mirror newspaper reports that “procedural issues”...

10 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill - everything we know so far

Housing Secretary Michael Gove says the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill, first promised in 2019, will finally be introduced into Parliament this...

09 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Renters Reform Bill - date announced

  The Renters’ Reform Bill is finally due to be published and introduced into Parliament next week. Housing Secretary Michael Gove has told Sky...

04 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Message to Gove: EPC rule changes “devastating” for rental sector

A lettings agency chief says tighter EPC targets will be “devastating” for the private rental sector. Ben Quaintrell - managing director of...

14 April 2023

From: Breaking News

Anger over Airbnbs and holiday lets needing planning consent

The new trade body for short lets has reacted angrily to a government plan for AirBnb and other short let hosts...

13 April 2023

From: Breaking News

Agent tells Gove: cease attacks on private rental sector

A prominent lettings agent in the north of England has written to Housing Secretary Michael Gove urging him to cease attacking...

22 March 2023

From: Breaking News

Agents urged to regularly inspect to spot damp and mould

A combination of regular inspections and pro-active installation of ventilation can help to reduce the risk of dangerous damp and mould...

03 March 2023

From: Breaking News

Mick Lynch and Labour Mayors accuse agents of pushing up rents

RMT rail union leader Mick Lynch and Labour leaders including Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan are leading a call for an...

24 February 2023

From: Breaking News

Council using planning powers to try to “control” Airbnbs

A council says it’s using planning powers to try to control the proliferation of Airbnbs, but suggests the real answer may...

07 February 2023

From: Breaking News

Gove told of agents’ worries about rash of council licensing schemes

Propertymark has written to Housing Secretary Michael Gove outlining its concerns about the latest licensing scheme proposal from a local council. The...

04 January 2023

From: Breaking News

Take That, Gove! Agents and landlords deliver warning letter

A warning letter signed by 330 major players in the private rental sector has been delivered to Housing Secretary Michael Gove. The...

03 January 2023

From: Breaking News

Leading agent writes to Gove with ‘lay off the rental sector’ message

A prominent letting agent has written an open letter to Housing Secretary Michael Gove, calling for a halt on government attacks...

19 December 2022

From: Breaking News

Gove urged to appoint a ‘Healthy Housing Minister’

Housing Secretary Michael Gove is being asked to take urgent action over housing conditions across social and private rental sectors.  Following the...

13 December 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents angry at Gove scrapping meaningful housing targets

Agents have expressed their anger at the government effectively scrapping any meaningful house building targets. Housing Secretary Michael Gove scrapped the mandatory...

12 December 2022

From: Breaking News

Gove leans on competitions watchdog to probe house builders

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has sent a letter to the Competitions and Markets Authority saying the watchdog is independent - but...

07 December 2022

From: Breaking News

Airbnb registration and short lets planning consent under consideration

The government is to open a consultation on whether residential properties should require planning consent to be used as short lets...

06 December 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents and Labour back Gove’s clampdown on private rental sector

Propertymark has given its backing to a clampdown by Housing Secretary Michael Gove on private landlords - although landlords themselves appear...

25 November 2022

From: Breaking News

Revealed - the junior housing ministers working with Gove

As the Rishi Sunak government’s lower ranks finally take shape, the junior ministers working with Housing Secretary Michael Gove have been...

31 October 2022

From: Breaking News

What now for Housing Secretary who backs a non-starter?

It’s been an embarrassing weekend for Housing Secretary Simon Clarke - backing a candidate for the Tory leadership who didn’t turn...

24 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Welcome Jeremy Hunt - will he last long enough to do anything?

The new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has been welcomed by the agency establishment - even though some may be wondering how long...

17 October 2022

From: Breaking News

No major rental reform debate at Tory Party conference

There appears to be no space for discussion on the government’s private rental sector reform policies at the Tory Party conference...

30 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Starmer’s Labour issues threat to buy to let with new restrictions

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer picked on the buy to let and holiday home sectors as targets for future restrictions, in...

28 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty Cuts take effect immediately

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has announced that stamp duty will be cut.  In future there will be no stamp duty on the first...

23 September 2022

From: Breaking News

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