Consultation responses

The Department for Communities has issued a Call for Evidence on its Housing Supply Strategy, which sets out its intentions to increase the amount of housing across all tenures so that every household can access a good quality, affordable and sustainable home.

The New Homes Quality Board has consulted on its draft Code of Practice, which outlines the guiding principles and practical steps that new homes builders across the UK must follow if they opt to be registered with the NHQB.

We have urged consistency across tenancy agreements and suggested the introduction of a checklist to support landlords and agents to comply with the new rules.

The UK Government will introduce a legislative backstop where commercial property negotiations are not successful all sides go into binding mediation. This will help tenants and landlords work together to come to an agreement on how to handle the money owed.

We reiterated our long-standing views that the UK Government must ensure that the Flood Re scheme is extended, and insurance is provided at reasonable rates to private landlords, leaseholders and small businesses.

We responded to the Welsh Government’s consultation on improving building safety by supporting the proposed measures. However, we also urged them to consider the height of buildings, occupation and material used to build property to determine fire risk rather than simply the number of dwellings.

We responded to the UK Government’s consultation on improving home energy performance through lenders by raising concerns that the proposed targets are unrealistic, too simplistic and could deter people from moving home.

We submitted our formal written representation to HM Treasury on new policy ideas for both estate and letting agents to be included in the UK Government’s Budget on 3 March 2021.

We highlighted a number of concerns relating to affordability and the need to look beyond a one-size fits all policy. We see a need to develop proposals that work with the different age, condition, and size of properties in the private rented sector.

We argued in our response that the rules should be amended so that landlords and agents ensure alarms are tested before the tenancy starts—not on the day the tenancy begins.

We responded to the Local Government and Communities Committee consultation on the Fair Rents Bill stressing disapproval of the policy's propositions. The Bill aims to cap rent rises on private residential properties in Scotland.

Following HCLG's May inquiry on the impact of Covid-19 on the private rented sector, we provided further response highlighting the urgent need for financial support.