Areas of agreement won't stop campaign for balanced reform
The Welsh Government’s response to the Local Government and Housing Committee's report on the Private Rented Sector (PRS) demonstrates alignment with Propertymark on key areas, such as the importance of the sector, the need for better data, and support for landlords and tenants.
Preliminary Report for the Cabinet Secretary for Housing
This report has been produced by the Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA) in association with Propertymark—acting in an independent role—for submission to Jayne Bryant MS, the Housing Cabinet Secretary. It formed the discussion at the roundtable meeting in Cardiff on 12 November 2024.
Labour's 'ambitious yet honest' plans leave housing delivery questions unanswered
The Rt Hon. Sir Kier Starmer, MP, announced his Plan for Change: Milestones for mission-led government in a high-profile, tone-setting speech on 5 December 2024. Drawing attention to the fact that housing starts and permissions are at their lowest for a decade, the Prime Minister insisted that the housing crisis will not be solved without approving controversial developments. However, with no new detail about how the targets will be achieved, the housing sector is left guessing.
More ambitious plans are needed to provide essential housing
The Northern Ireland Executive’s draft Programme for Government identifies providing access to affordable, sustainable, and quality housing as an immediate priority and acknowledges the pressing need for action. Propertymark supports this aim and has made specific recommendations to accelerate progress.
Scotland’s planning reform to shake up the delivery of new homes
Planning has not created a housing emergency — but it can help solve the challenges. The Scottish Government is focused on identifying how its planning system can help to provide solutions with the introduction of a new Housing Planning Hub that will be launched and operational in early 2025.
Brownfield Passports: Propertymark calls for flexibility and control
Prioritising local housing needs is key to addressing the housing crisis. We support the UK Government’s proposals, but they must be thoughtfully implemented to encourage development while ensuring benefits for local communities.
Welsh property sector calls for universal access to decent housing
Propertymark has joined organisations representing tenants, landlords, and other housing providers to call for the UK Government to secure Local Housing Allowance to the 30th percentile of rents and carry out a thorough assessment of the case for raising it to the 50th percentile.
Budget aims to unlock housing with investment in affordable homes
The UK’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, MP, delivered the first Labour Budget for 14 years on 30 October 2024, announcing tax increases worth £40 billion. Whilst agents will be relieved not to see a hike in Capital Gains rates, it is disappointing that the reversal of Section 24 and support for property owners to meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards have been overlooked. It is also a missed opportunity to give structured support to first-time buyers and downsizers to boost consumer confidence.
Councils call for greater support to deliver affordable and decent homes
The Local Government Association (LGA) submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system has been released. It urges the UK Government to collaborate more closely with local councils, to improve and increase the delivery of affordable and social housing and calls for the necessary resources and powers to ensure the successful delivery of local housing plans.
Rent controls clash with Swinney's economic vision for Scotland
Announcing his Programme for Government on 4 September 2024, the Scottish First Minister said proposals to give local authorities the power to cap rent increases would remain part of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. Ignoring stark warnings from Propertymark and other sector organisations, Mr Swinney claimed the measures will give tenants certainty and encourage investment in the private rented sector (PRS).
Homelessness programmes failing to deliver value for money
National Audit Office (NAO) findings show that statutory homelessness has worsened since the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) came into force in April 2018. A report, published on 23 July 2024, is highly critical of the previous Conservative UK Government for a lack of strategy, fragmented funding, and failure to address issues with housing supply.
Greater Manchester plans to tackle housing crisis
A UK-first deal for renters and landlords will see standards across the rental sector improve under the Good Landlord Charter, as announced by Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor on 12 July, along with the promise of delivering thousands of new homes.
Chancellor: House building is the foundation for economic growth
The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves made her first speech as Chancellor of the Exchequer today, 8 July 2024, emphasising three key policy pillars of stability, investment, and reform. Watched from the front row by Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook and Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband, she began to elaborate on Labour’s manifesto commitments on planning by announcing an immediate review of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), a task force to unblock stalled developments, and making clear that Ministers will take an interventionist approach to get Britain building.
The new government must address the country's housing crisis promptly
The UK General Election has returned the Labour Party to power with a parliamentary landslide, ending 14 years of Conservative government. Aiming to channel the spirit of Clement Attlee with a proactive and strategic approach to housing, the party campaigned on a manifesto that promised significant changes to planning rules, strict targets for delivery of new homes, reform of the private rented sector (PRS), long-term schemes to help young people onto the housing ladder, and local powers for councils to take over empty commercial premises.
Suitable housing for disabled people must be prioritised
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee published its inquiry report on disabled people in the housing sector where Propertymark gave evidence, which examined barriers to accessible housing, increasing the supply of accessible homes, and the support available for adapting homes, including reforms to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). The overarching conclusion chimes with our long-held position that the ultimate key to tackling the housing crisis is to build more homes of all kinds.
Distaste for rent controls in Wales
The Summary of Responses to the Green Paper Call for Evidence on Securing a Path towards Adequate Housing Including Fair Rents and Affordability has been published, which showed an aversion to rent controls being implemented as a long-term measure, a view shared by Propertymark.