Thank you for contacting me about improving housing stock across the country.
Everyone deserves a warm, safe, high-quality home to call their own. I share the determination of my ministerial colleagues to improve housing quality across the private and social rented sectors and strengthen the voices of residents up and down the country.
As you will know, the Government has laid out its plans to spread opportunity and prosperity to every region of the UK in the Levelling Up White Paper. Building more homes and transforming the quality of our housing to ensure it is fit for the 21st century are important parts of this. I understand that the levelling up agenda will be underpinned by a Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which will require the Government to provide annual updates on its progress against goals set out in the White Paper.
Ministers are also committed to delivering a better deal for renters and will soon lay out a White Paper detailing a package of reforms to do just that. This will include consulting on the introduction of a legally binding Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector for the first time. Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished and the merits of a national landlord register will also be explored. Colleagues have assured me that legislation will follow.
I am glad that the Government is taking steps to deliver on its commitments made to social housing tenants following the Grenfell tragedy in 2017. Building on the policies outlined in the Charter for Social Housing Residents, a Social Housing Regulation Bill will raise the standard for social housing to meet the needs and aspiration of residents around the country. Taking on board comments made by the Secretary of State, I understand that legislation is due to be published later this year.
I am assured that the Government is committed to creating a fair and just housing system that works for everyone and I look forward to further details on these policies.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
April 2022