If we’re to be taken seriously, our industry needs a Tsar says agency chief

A leading agency chief says the frequent churn of housing ministers means there is only one answer if our industry wants to have a serious voice - appoint a Tsar.

As Kit Malthouse begins his second full day in office as the 17th housing minister in the past 20 years, Belvoir chief executive Dorian Gonsalves says: “As housing ministers have historically only remained in post for a matter of months, the necessity for increased market stability, with increased incentives for landlords to remain in the market, and protection for the millions of tenants who desperately need good quality homes, being more important than ever before. 

“Belvoir believes that the urgent appointment of a housing tsar, would be an effective way to improve market stability. A housing tsar would be able to work with industry experts and politicians from all parties, and then make recommendations to the new housing minister. This would not only help to alleviate pressure on the private rental sector, but would also benefit the entire housing industry.”

A year ago - when the last but one housing minister, Alok Sharma, was in office -  Gonsalves wrote to Prime Minister Theresa May asking her to consider the appointment of a cross-party housing tsar who could work with industry experts, social housing providers and all housing stake holders to offer long-term vision.

“The Prime Minister arranged for Alok Sharma ... to reply to me directly. In a lengthy and informative letter Sharma covered the key points that we raised, and confirmed his wish to work with Belvoir on important issues in the future. Just two months later, London Mayor Sadiq Khan also backed Belvoir’s calls for the appointment of a housing tsar” says Gonsalves.

Malthouse is now the eighth housing minister to have been appointed since the Conservatives came into power in 2010. 

He has not made any official comment since his appointment on Monday.