The UK Government has opened a consultation which proposes amendments to permitted development rights that remove barriers to the installation of air-source heat pumps and charging points for electric vehicles. Changes to the rules on altering and extending properties are also put forward to ensure they provide flexibility for householders as well as change of use is encouraged to turn derelict and under-used buildings into new homes.

In 2021, it was estimated that there were over 1.1 million homes in England that had obtained planning permission but were waiting to be built. Propertymark believes that the planning system needs to be simplified to speed up housebuilding and boost supply.

Calls for a planning system that is community and environmentally led whilst supporting levelling up across the country were heard at Westminster Hall debate put forward by Bob Seely, the Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight.

Tulip Siddiq, Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn brought a motion to Luke Hall MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Local Government and Homelessness) today, 17 March, regarding the private rented sector and what happens if you get the Coronavirus, can’t work and don’t get paid.

Boris Johnson’s pledge to take the UK forward with an ambitious One National programme was announced in the Queen’s Speech today, 19 December, which included new measures to be brought forward to protect tenants, agents, and landlords.

Sections 122 and 123 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (electrical safety standards) come into force on 25 October 2019. This means we are finally one step closer to the introduction of mandatory electrical safety checks in the private rented sector in England and will see actual regulations very soon

ARLA Propertymark has responded to the UK Governments consultation which seeks views on widening access and considering the scope of the database of rogue landlords and property agents.

We are pleased that the Government has consulted on banning orders in order to clarify what these offences will include, but we are concerned about the openness of the register and believe that being banned under Estate Agents Act 1979 should also constitute a banning order offence under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.