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1457289

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Help to Buy Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the rate of inflation on homeowners on the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme.
tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
uin	154236
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2022 answer text <p>The changes in the rate of inflation and the impact this will have on homeowners is of great importance. Help to Buy customers pay no interest for the first five years of their loan. Interest fees that begin in year 6 start at 1.75% and increase each year by CPI + 2%. Affordability assessments are carried out by both the main mortgage provider and our Help to Buy Agents at the outset of the loans. These checks assess and stress-test the borrower’s long-term ability to meet their mortgage repayments and future fee payments. We are, however, monitoring the situation closely and will continue working with Homes England ensure we have the correct policies in place to support homeowners.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 21/04/2022 16:39:09 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

1456263

registered interest
date	31/03/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Flats: Insulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of measures announced by his Department on 21 July 2021 on the availability of mortgages to purchase leasehold homes in medium and lower-rise buildings without an EWS1 form; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	150971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2022 answer text <p>An EWS1 form is not a statutory or regulatory requirement, nor ​a​ safety ‘test’. Not all lenders ask for an EWS1, but when or whether they do remains a commercial decision. The measures in the January Statement provide a clear framework for proportionate risk assessments whilst encouraging lenders to base their risk management on the presumption that medium- and low-rise buildings are safe, unless there is evidence to the contrary.</p><p>We will continue to work with lenders to enable them to accept forms of assurance other than EWS1s, such as a comprehensive fire risk assessment. We will also continue to challenge industry on the use of the EWS1 process. The Department publishes quarterly data on the number of EWS1s required on mortgage valuations by the seven largest lenders, including for medium- and low-rise buildings on <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fews1-or-equivalent-lender-data-on-mortgage-valuations-for-flats-april-to-december-2021-united-kingdom&amp;data=04%7C01%7CClaire.Strombeck%40levellingup.gov.uk%7Cc2652980b9424903212608da13f36bd7%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637844233440977450%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=oGTutYHPpqZYBCqL%2BiZz3Dw9GFTStu%2FWhsDBGev2T54%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 19/04/2022 16:52:47 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1456413

registered interest
date	31/03/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Local Plans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his Department's policy is on whether a surplus contribution to meeting employment need made by a council through its local plan affects expectations for that council's contributions to housing need through the Duty to Cooperate.
tabling member constituency	South Staffordshire
tabling member printed	Sir Gavin Williamson
uin	151098
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>The standard method for assessing local housing need is used by councils to inform the preparation of their local plans. Councils decide their housing requirement once they have considered their ability to meet the needs in their area. This includes taking local circumstances and constraints into account.</p><p>The duty to co-operate is a statutory requirement on councils (local planning authorities and county councils) and other public bodies. They must work together constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis in relation to planning for strategic cross boundary matters during plan preparation. This can include the redistribution of housing need and employment need between authorities where one authority cannot meet its own need.</p><p>There is no direct relationship or expectation that a contribution to meeting employment need, or other development needs, affects an authority's contribution to housing need or vice versa.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 25/04/2022 16:27:35 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4108 label Biography information for Sir Gavin Williamson

1456494

registered interest
date	31/03/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Energy: Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure that opportunities to install energy efficiency measures through Government schemes are compatible with regulations regarding (a) listed buildings and (b) buildings situated in conservation areas.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	151284
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>The Government is fully committed to encouraging homeowners to incorporate energy efficiency measures in their properties in order to tackle climate change. As part of this, we recognise the need to ensure that more historic buildings have the right energy efficiency measures to support our zero carbon objectives. In our recently published British Energy Security Strategy, we have committed to reviewing the practical planning barriers that households can face when installing energy efficiency measures such as improved glazing, including in conservation areas and listed buildings. This review will be completed by the end of 2022 and ensure protection of local amenity and heritage, whilst making it easier to improve energy efficiency.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 25/04/2022 16:28:55 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1456529

registered interest
date	31/03/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Housing: Construction
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding of the New Homes Review 2022, that 64 per cent of new homes were completed on time.
tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
tabling member printed	Apsana Begum
uin	151291
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>We expect all housing developers to deliver good quality housing, to deliver it on time, and to treat house buyers fairly. It is disappointing when new homes are not completed on time. For most new build homes purchased off-plan, the exchange date may be a long time before completion as the home. New build home contracts typically have a long-stop date, which is an estimated completion date and the rights and responsibilities of the homebuyer and developer should be set out in the contract, including the circumstances a deposit and other money is returned.</p><p>The Government is committed to improving redress for new build homebuyers when things go wrong. In July 2021, the UK Government introduced the Building Safety Bill into Parliament, which includes provision for the New Homes Ombudsman scheme to provide dispute resolution to, and determine complaints by, buyers of new build homes against developers. This will include the pre-completion period of new build homes. Once arrangements for the scheme have been made, developers will be required to become and remain members of the scheme.</p><p>Where the ombudsman determines a dispute in favour of the complainant, they may order redress such as paying compensation, and where this is not complied with, the scheme may expel the member.</p><p>To ensure that developers know what is expected of them and homebuyers know what to expect, the Bill includes provision for a developers' code of practice about the standards of conduct and standards of quality of work expected of the schemes members'.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew grouped question UIN 151292 question first answered 25/04/2022 16:48:50 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4790 label Biography information for Apsana Begum

1456531

registered interest
date	31/03/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Housing: Construction
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to require developers to offer compensation to buyers when the completion of their new home is delayed by developers.
tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
tabling member printed	Apsana Begum
uin	151292
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>We expect all housing developers to deliver good quality housing, to deliver it on time, and to treat house buyers fairly. It is disappointing when new homes are not completed on time. For most new build homes purchased off-plan, the exchange date may be a long time before completion as the home. New build home contracts typically have a long-stop date, which is an estimated completion date and the rights and responsibilities of the homebuyer and developer should be set out in the contract, including the circumstances a deposit and other money is returned.</p><p>The Government is committed to improving redress for new build homebuyers when things go wrong. In July 2021, the UK Government introduced the Building Safety Bill into Parliament, which includes provision for the New Homes Ombudsman scheme to provide dispute resolution to, and determine complaints by, buyers of new build homes against developers. This will include the pre-completion period of new build homes. Once arrangements for the scheme have been made, developers will be required to become and remain members of the scheme.</p><p>Where the ombudsman determines a dispute in favour of the complainant, they may order redress such as paying compensation, and where this is not complied with, the scheme may expel the member.</p><p>To ensure that developers know what is expected of them and homebuyers know what to expect, the Bill includes provision for a developers' code of practice about the standards of conduct and standards of quality of work expected of the schemes members'.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew grouped question UIN 151291 question first answered 25/04/2022 16:48:50 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4790 label Biography information for Apsana Begum

1455901

registered interest
date	30/03/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to tackle the challenges presented by areas of very high housing costs for people in housing poverty.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	150209
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>The Government understands that people are concerned about pressure on household budgets and is taking action to help. The Chancellor announced in February a package of support to help households with rising energy bills, worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23.</p><p>Individuals who are unable to afford their rental payments may be eligible for a range of support through the Universal Credit system. In April 2020, the Government boosted investment in the Local Housing Allowance by nearly £1 billion, providing 1.5 million claimants with around £600 more housing support in 2020/21 than they would otherwise have received. We maintained LHA rates at their increased levels in 2021/22 and rates will remain at those levels for 2022/23, so that everyone who benefitted from the increase will continue to do so.</p><p>Whilst three quarters of private renters find no difficulties in keeping up with their rent, we understand that affordability may be an issue for some and that they may require additional support. Discretionary Housing Payments are available to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011, the Government has provided almost £1.5 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities. From April, the Government is also providing an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of essentials through the Household Support Fund. This brings the total funding for this support to £1 billion.</p><p>For people living in social rented homes there are caps on maximum rent increases, under the social housing rent settlement that came into force in April 2020. This aims to strike a fair balance between the interests of existing social housing tenants, the interests of taxpayers, the need to build more homes and the importance of ensuring that providers have sufficient income with which to manage and maintain their properties.</p><p>For social renting tenants receiving Housing Benefit the maximum amount of Housing Benefit payable reflects the actual rent charged, subject to the removal of the spare room subsidy and the total benefit cap.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 25/04/2022 16:16:44 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1455905

registered interest
date	30/03/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Housing: Construction
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of areas with high levels of development of high cost housing on the cost of housing in those areas.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	150210
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>The Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact on areas with high levels of development of high-cost housing on the cost of housing in those areas.</p><p>More generally, lower development will tend to lead to higher prices [footnote: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bankofengland.co.uk%2Fknowledgebank%2Fhow-does-the-housing-market-affect-the-economy&amp;data=04%7C01%7CHousingStrategicBriefing%40levellingup.gov.uk%7C11a0439a1c76461643bd08da17142217%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637847672473896388%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=JgXErnUo9SbrPmy%2FIR7DBFHThip1UpOzn7N7jLxP8sw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/knowledgebank/how-does-the-housing-market-affect-the-economy</a>].</p><p>As the Levelling Up White paper set out, getting people onto the housing ladder means making housing more affordable now and in the future. To help create a more sustainable and affordable housing market, the Government has committed to deliver 1 million new homes by the end of this Parliament and continue working towards its ambition of delivering 300,000 new homes per year.</p><p>Our National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community and reflect this in planning policies.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 25/04/2022 16:20:19 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1455906

registered interest
date	30/03/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Housing: Construction
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent estimate he has made of annual profits of housing developers; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing section 106 thresholds.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	150211
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>The department has compiled the data based on published reports in the table below, this shows the profits developers made over the last three years.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Rank</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020 Top 10</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018 Profit</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019 Profit</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020 Profit*</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>Barratt</p></td><td><p>862.6</p></td><td><p>901.1</p></td><td><p>493.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>Persimmon</p></td><td><p>1082.7</p></td><td><p>1029.4</p></td><td><p>783.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>Taylor Wimpey</p></td><td><p>804.9</p></td><td><p>832.7</p></td><td><p>274.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>Bellway</p></td><td><p>652.9</p></td><td><p>674.9</p></td><td><p>249.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>Vistry</p></td><td><p>174.2</p></td><td><p>181.5</p></td><td><p>125.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>Berkeley</p></td><td><p>817</p></td><td><p>768.4</p></td><td><p>469.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>Redrow</p></td><td><p>382</p></td><td><p>411</p></td><td><p>148</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>Bloor</p></td><td><p>178.1</p></td><td><p>190</p></td><td><p>160.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>9</p></td><td><p>Countryside</p></td><td><p>211.4</p></td><td><p>234.4</p></td><td><p>54.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>L&amp;Q</p></td><td><p>56</p></td><td><p>79.3</p></td><td><p>87.7</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>**</strong> *Profit in 2020 would have been affected by Covid</p><p>Local planning authorities use the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 planning obligations (together called ‘developer contributions’) to capture a proportion of the increases in land value that occur as a result of planning permission being granted. There are a range of estimates for the amount of land value uplift currently captured, from 25 to 50 per cent, and in 2018-19, £7 billion was agreed through developer contributions.</p><p>However, the existing developer contributions regime is discretionary, subject to negotiation and renegotiations based on developers’ viability assessment.</p><p>Over 80% of local authorities consider that Section 106 planning obligations create a delay in the granting of planning permission, and over 60% believe that this slows development completion.</p><p>The Government has proposed to introduce a new ‘Infrastructure Levy’, to replace the existing system of developer contributions, which aims to capture a greater share of the uplift in land value that comes with development. Through the Levy, local authorities will have greater flexibility to determine how contributions are spent to shape and support both existing and new communities.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 25/04/2022 16:24:55 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1455908

registered interest
date	30/03/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Second Homes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in the context of high proportions of second homes in some communities, whether he has plans to bring forward proposals to discourage investment in second homes.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	150213
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>The Government recognises the adverse effect that large numbers of second homes can have on some areas. <br> <br> We have already introduced a number of measures to help mitigate those effects, including introducing higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax for those purchasing additional properties and removing the requirement for local authorities to offer a council tax discount on second homes and enabling them to charge the full rate of council tax for these properties.</p><p>Development plans can, if supported by local evidence, be used to prioritise local residents by managing the number of new holiday homes in local areas, for example, by including policies which require new open-market housing to be occupied as a primary residence.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 25/04/2022 16:26:18 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell