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1383866

registered interest
date	01/12/2021
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: Sales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a limit on the level of legal fees that can be imposed upon a homeowner trying to sell their home in the event that the buyer pulls out late in that process.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	85368
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2021 answer text <p>We recognise that the process for buying and selling homes in England and Wales can be frustrating. In our response to the Call for Evidence for improving the home buying and selling process, we set out actions we will take to make the process more efficient and less costly.</p><p>One part of this work is encouraging the adoption of voluntary reservation agreements. These would see buyers and sellers committing to the sale once an offer has been accepted and may include both sides making a financial commitment which would be surrendered to the other side if the party withdraws without good reason. These agreements will provide more certainty for both sides as the sale moves forward to completion; reducing the risk of parties withdrawing from transactions. In the event a party does withdraw the other side may get some financial compensation to cover their costs.</p><p>In order to be widely taken up, reservation agreements need to be attractive to buyers and sellers, and promoted by estate agents and legal representatives. Following behavioural insight research, work is now continuing to develop the agreements to make them an effective tool in improving the efficiency of home buying and selling and we hope to be able to evaluate their effectiveness next year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 09/12/2021 16:09:08 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1351037

registered interest
date	18/08/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Sales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if will he make it his policy to give priority to buyers in the property market who intend to live in the property over investors and buy-to-let landlords.
tabling member constituency	Warrington North
tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
uin	41345
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2021 answer text <p>We recognise the adverse effect that large numbers of second homes can have on some areas, and that is why we have introduced a series of measures to help mitigate those effects, including introducing higher rates of stamp duty for purchases of additional properties, such as second homes.</p><p>We are committed to supporting first time buyers, and ensuring that enough homes are built in the places where people and communities need them. Our new First Homes scheme will provide new homes at a discount of at least 30 percent, prioritised for local first-time buyers. <br> <br>Over 734,000 households have been helped to purchase a home since Spring 2010 through Government-backed schemes such as Help to Buy: Equity Loan and Right to Buy. New initiatives including First Homes, the new model of Shared Ownership and the £11.5 billion affordable homes programme will bring more affordable housing to those who need it.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 06/09/2021 11:42:03 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1305283

registered interest
date	23/03/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Sales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure buyers and sellers can access effective guidance on buying and selling homes.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	174349
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2021 answer text <p>In September 2019 we published detailed “How to sell” and “How to buy” guides, which are freely available on the Gov.uk website, and lead consumers through the full length of the process. Since March 2020 we published COVID-19 guidance to the housing industry and to those moving home, advising them on how they can work and move home safely.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 29/03/2021 16:10:16 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1305287

registered interest
date	23/03/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Sales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve the home buying and selling process.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	174351
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2021 answer text <p>We identified a number of ways we intended to improve the home buying and selling process in our response to a Call for Evidence on ways to improve the home buying and selling process which was published in April 2018. We are working with industry to take these forward.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 29/03/2021 16:11:55 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1302391

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Housing: Sales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many investigations there have been into the fraudulent sale of (a) houses and (b) powers where a power of attorney has been used in each police force area; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	168822
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>The Home Office collects information on the number of fraud offences that the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau refer to police forces for investigation but breakdowns specifically for those relating to fraudulent sales of houses are not separately identifiable. This data is published annually as part of the Home Office’s ‘Crime Outcomes in England and Wales’ publication. The latest available data for year ending March 2020 can be found be here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-statistics</a></p><p>Related data on investigations where the use of a power of attorney has been involved is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 23/03/2021 14:49:36 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1278678

registered interest
date	20/01/2021
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Housing: Sales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will protect people purchasing houses from lost sales due to mortgages and other loans not being fulfilled due to the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
uin	140744
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting homeowners and home buyers during COVID-19. This included making mortgage holidays available to all mortgage holders for up to 6 months support for consumers struggling with mortgage payments; consumers have until 31 March 2021 to apply and all holidays must be completed by 31 July. We also brought in a temporary Stamp Duty Land Tax cut in order to encourage and maintain confidence in the property market.</p><p> </p><p>The Government does not seek to intervene in individual home purchases, but, we have worked with industry on a range of measures to make the process of buying and selling homes quicker, cheaper and less stressful. For example, we published &quot;how to &quot; guides to lead consumers through the process, ensured estate agent referral fees are transparent, set an 10 day turnaround for searches and started work to test reservation agreements which will increase commitment between buyers and sellers.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 25/01/2021 16:02:19 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

1218128

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Housing: Sales
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what was (1) the total number of principal residences sold last year, and (2) the aggregate capital value of any such sales.
tabling member printed	Lord Lee of Trafford
uin	HL6171
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2020 answer text <p>This information is not available because principal private residences are mainly exempt from Capital Gains Tax, and hence these details do not have to be reported to HMRC.</p><p> </p><p>However, information is available from Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) returns data, which is focused on the purchaser and type of property, including the consideration amount. The figure will include properties that are new builds and non-private residences (e.g. landlords). HMRC publish this information as Official Statistics in their Annual Stamp Taxes Publication. The latest figures are below:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4"><p>Financial Year</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>Residential</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of transaction (Thousands)</p></td><td><p>Estimated Property Value (£Millions)</p></td><td><p>Receipts (£Millions)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006-07</p></td><td><p>1,700</p></td><td><p>344,490</p></td><td><p>6,375</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007-08</p></td><td><p>1,532</p></td><td><p>330,465</p></td><td><p>6,680</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>814</p></td><td><p>167,945</p></td><td><p>2,950</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>898</p></td><td><p>188,350</p></td><td><p>3,290</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>881</p></td><td><p>205,365</p></td><td><p>4,040</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>917</p></td><td><p>209,355</p></td><td><p>4,215</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>928</p></td><td><p>215,180</p></td><td><p>4,905</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>1,131</p></td><td><p>269,835</p></td><td><p>6,450</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>1,207</p></td><td><p>304,155</p></td><td><p>7,500</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>1,184</p></td><td><p>321,530</p></td><td><p>7,310</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>1,094</p></td><td><p>300,295</p></td><td><p>8,590</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>1,106</p></td><td><p>315,060</p></td><td><p>9,275</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>1,036</p></td><td><p>300,040</p></td><td><p>8,370</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>It should be noted that SDLT ceased to apply in Scotland in April 2015, and in Wales in April 2018.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 08/07/2020 16:43:45 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	1132 label Biography information for Lord Lee of Trafford

1195221

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Sales
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to end any temporary restrictions in place for the (1) sale, and (2) purchase, of residential property. [T]
tabling member printed	Lord Naseby
uin	HL4224
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2020 answer text <p>The government removed restrictions on the sale and purchase of residential property in England on 13 May. Restrictions remain in place in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 14/05/2020 13:54:36 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
tabling member	1251 label Biography information for Lord Naseby

1151435

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Sales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government is taking steps to limit the number of properties bought as investments rather than as homes or rental properties.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	3602
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>This government is determined that the housing market works for everyone. That is why we are considering all levers at our disposal, including reforms to the planning system, to increase the supply of discounted homes for local people to buy, as well as increasing the supply of homes overall.</p><p>We have also taken steps to reduce the numbers of long-term empty homes in England by bolstering local authorities powers and incentives to tackle empty homes. Local authorities have the discretion to increase the maximum level of premium charged on properties that have been empty for more than two years from 50 per cent to 100 per cent extra council tax. There are now 83,813 fewer empty homes than in 2010.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tatton answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 04/11/2019 15:41:20 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey previous answer version 2249 answering member constituency Tatton answering member printed Esther McVey answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1110557

registered interest
date	09/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Sales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of residential property transactions that do not complete the legal purchase process in the latest period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	242798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government does not collect data on the number of housing transactions which fall through. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the fall through rate is around 25 per cent, which is why the Government is working with industry to trial reservation agreements which will increase commitment between buyers and sellers and should reduce the failure rate.</p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 17/04/2019 13:15:07 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord