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KEYWORD "housing secretary" - 100 RESULTS
Housing Secretary unveils planning reforms to boost property market

All councils in England will be given new, mandatory housebuilding targets under planning reforms unveiled by the Government yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister...

31 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Industry-backed open letter calls for agency regulation

Propertymark and RICS are among industry bodies that have backed an open letter to the new Housing Secretary calling for the...

15 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Housing Secretary drops “levelling up gimmick”

The Government has dropped the previous Tory Party’s levelling up slogan. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner confirmed the move...

10 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Chancellor restores housebuilding targets

New Chancellor Rachel Reeves has used her first speech to reinstate housebuilding targets and pledge to build one and a half...

09 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour Government needs 'less chopping and changing' on housing

Property professionals have called for cross-party support and stability when it comes to housing policy under the new Labour Government after...

08 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Industry Views - Labour Agrees New Housing Policies

You may not have realised, but yesterday, the new government’s housing policy was agreed. No, I’m not talking about the new ‘Freedom...

08 June 2024

From: Features

Gove-r and out! Housing Secretary to quit after General Election

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has become the latest high-profile MP to announce he would step down ahead of July’s General Election. Gove...

28 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Government criticised for ‘disappointing’ response to agent regulation inquiry

The chairperson of the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has hit back at the Government’s approach – or lack of...

22 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour unveils plans for new towns

The Labour Party has committed to building 1.5m new homes across the country over the next parliament. Shadow Housing Secretary Angela Rayner...

22 May 2024

From: Breaking News

MPs demand scrapping of ground rents on leasehold properties

Sky News is reporting that up to 30 Conservative MPs are threatening to rebel against the government’s approach to ground rents...

02 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty Cut possible in Mini-Budget - government briefing

A report in the Times newspaper says Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is planning a stamp duty cut in the early autumn. The paper...

22 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Industry Views - Airbnb Crackdown - this time it's not just Michael Gove...

It’s tempting to think that Michael Gove’s proposed clampdown on Airbnb-style short lets is a uniquely British form of small-mindedness, part...

20 April 2024

From: Features

Ground rent reform set for scrapheap - reports

Plans to set ground rents at a ‘peppercorn rate’ are reported to have been dropped amid opposition from freehold campaigners and...

25 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Government urged to stop ‘sitting on its hands’ over agency regulations

The architect of the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) reforms has expressed frustration that the recommendations have failed to materialise as...

22 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Government orders London Mayor to build more homes

The Government has taken the unusual step of intervening in the London Plan to boost housebuilding in the capital.   Housing Secretary Michael...

19 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Warm words and cold comfort on the menu for Budget Day

Last weekend, Levelling Up and Housing Secretary, Michael Gove wrote in the Sunday Times that the nation’s housing crisis was so...

17 February 2024

From: Features

Brownfield building sites ‘not silver bullet’ to solve housing crisis - warning

Building on brownfield sites may not be the silver bullet it is made out to be, the government has been warned. Housing...

14 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Housing Secretary suggests homebuyer support is coming

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has given the strongest hint yet that housing measures could be included in the Spring Budget. Chancellor Jeremy...

12 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Industry Views - Why Are Housing Ministers So Mediocre These Days?

Sir Simon Clarke’s call for Rishi Sunak to be ousted from Downing Street may well express what many of his MP...

27 January 2024

From: Features

Government publishes new housing policy but will it get Britain building?

The Government has published long-awaited reforms to its National Planning Policy Framework, confirming that local housebuilding targets will be advisory rather...

20 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Long-awaited leasehold reform laws to be unveiled today

The long-awaited Leasehold and Freehold Bill is set to be unveiled in Parliament today. The Bill aims to make it cheaper and...

27 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Lee Rowley returns as housing minister

Lee Rowley has returned as housing minister. The reappointment comes after Rachel Maclean was sacked this morning and follows reports that the...

13 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Propertymark renews calls for agency regulation

Propertymark has written to the Housing Secretary Michael Gove to reiterate its longstanding call for regulation of property agents. The agency trade...

13 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Government unveils proposals to reform ground rents

The Government has outlined five proposals to reduce ground rents for existing leaseholders as its latest attempt to reform the sector...

10 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Michael Gove’s Wasted Opportunity

Talk about a wasted opportunity. The Conservative party conference - just finished, and possibly the last one before a General Election -...

07 October 2023

From: Features

Housing Secretary: We (still) need to do more on home ownership

More families need a home they can call their own, the Housing Secretary Michael Gove has claimed. Speaking at the Tory Party...

04 October 2023

From: Breaking News

Party Time - housing policies from Labour, Tories and the rest

And suddenly it’s autumn. It’s just six weeks before the clocks change, days are getting shorter and - the real sign...

09 September 2023

From: Features

Is the government changing its tune on landlords?

I recently wrote that the long-gestating Renters Reform Bill, finally introduced in Parliament back in May, could be poorly timed, both...

26 August 2023

From: Features

Government unveils latest planning overhaul to boost housing stock

The Government has set out yet another attempt to meet it manifesto commitment to build 1m homes over this Parliament. Prime Minister...

25 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Speculation about Gove future as reshuffle likely in September

It may be all change - again - at the Department of Levelling Up, Communities and Local Government if media speculation...

17 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Michael Gove has finally done something sensible

It’s not a sentence that I thought I would be writing, but Housing Secretary Michael Gove has indeed finally done something...

15 July 2023

From: Features

Mortgage Mayhem - Labour summit wins support from industry

The Labour Party has announced it will be hosting an emergency mortgage summit this week. The summit, happening in London tomorrow, is...

11 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour to use Compulsory Purchase Orders to buy cheaper land

Labour says it will reform how land is valued under Compulsory Purchase Order powers in a bid to increase house building...

31 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Labour: We will abolish leasehold in first 100 days

The Labour Party has pledged to introduce legislation within its first 100 days of Government to abolish leasehold if it wins...

24 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Gove criticised for “unhelpful” leasehold pledges amid reform delays

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has been slammed for “unhelpful” comments about abolishing leasehold after it emerged that there may not be...

12 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Open letter urges Housing Secretary to help speed-up the property market

A coalition of businesses from across the property industry have united to call on the Government to do more to speed-up...

11 May 2023

From: Breaking News

Government ‘working with’ Trading Standards on conditional selling

The issue of conditional selling in estate agency has hit Westminster. There have been several reports in recent months about agents requiring...

11 April 2023

From: Breaking News

Housing Secretary: UK property supply and standards are broken

The property market is broken, Housing Secretary Michael Gove acknowledged yesterday. Despite the Conservative Party being in power since 2010, Gove insisted...

04 April 2023

From: Breaking News

Tory MP seeks protection for paper-based conveyancing

The property industry may be going to great effort to digitise and improve the process of buying and selling a home...

13 March 2023

From: Breaking News

‘Fundamental’ leasehold reform promised in King’s Speech

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has signalled that legislation to allow for further leasehold reform will be included in the next parliamentary...

21 February 2023

From: Breaking News

Housing Secretary commits to leasehold reform before election

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has committed to leasehold reform and fixing cladding issues before the next election. It comes as the Government...

30 January 2023

From: Breaking News

‘More work needed’ a year since cladding reform pledges

It’s been a year since Housing Secretary Michael Gove declared that was “morally wrong” that leaseholders should pay to fix unsafe...

11 January 2023

From: Breaking News

Property Natter – the five biggest property moments of 2022

As we get ever closer to 2023, this final Natter of the year is dedicated to the five biggest property moments of...

17 December 2022

From: Features

2023 - this is what’s going to happen

Is it really just a year ago that we were nervously wondering whether yet another Christmas would be Covid-affected? Little did we...

10 December 2022

From: Features

Government ditches mandatory housebuilding targets

The Government has officially watered-down proposals for mandatory local housebuilding targets as it brings its flagship Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill...

06 December 2022

From: Breaking News

Former Housing Secretary: ‘It’s un-Conservative to not build homes’

A former Housing Secretary has outlined why the Conservative Party mustn’t abandon its commitment to housebuilding. It comes as some 47 Conservative...

24 November 2022

From: Breaking News

Help to Buy home sellers hit by building safety issues

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has committed to look into issues with the Building Safety Act after MPs claimed leaseholders and Help to...

22 November 2022

From: Breaking News

Gove’s ministerial team confirmed with new Housing Minister

MP for South East Cambridgeshire Lucy Frazer has been confirmed as the latest Housing Minister as part of a department reshuffle. Michael...

09 November 2022

From: Breaking News

‘Fixer’ Gove will struggle to hit homebuilding targets – warning

The Government’s target of constructing 300,000 new homes annually by 2025 has been called into question due to a lack of...

04 November 2022

From: Breaking News

Housing Under Rishi - don’t expect much (but be grateful for that)

And…breathe. For a while back there, the only certainty for the housing market was uncertainty. That isn’t to say the election of Rishi...

29 October 2022

From: Features

Gove urged to 'go further' on return as Housing Secretary

Estate agents have already filled Michael Gove's inbox with property-related tasks after he returned as Housing Secretary yesterday. New Prime Minister Rishi...

26 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Michael Gove returns as Housing Secretary in Sunak's reshuffle

Michael Gove has returned to frontline politics and his previous role as Levelling Up and Housing Secretary. He is among the new...

25 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Simon Clarke quits as Housing Secretary

Housing Secretary Simon Clarke has left Cabinet after Rishi Sunak officially entered Downing Street as Prime Minister this morning. Clarke cited his...

25 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Rishi Sunak confirmed as new UK Prime Minister

Rishi Sunak has been confirmed as the new Conservative Party leader and will become the next UK Prime Minister. He will replace...

24 October 2022

From: Breaking News

A new week, a new PM – and yet another Housing Secretary?

A week-long race to be the next Conservative Party leader and the Prime Minister kicks off this week, or may already...

24 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Property Natter – property is holding its own despite the turmoil

I can’t really write about anything else this week, can I? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will have...

22 October 2022

From: Features

Housing Secretary ‘backs Boris’ to return as PM

Levelling Up and Housing Secretary Simon Clarke has given his backing for a return of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. Clarke was...

21 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Leadership or General Election? – what property professionals want

Liz Truss became the shortest serving UK Prime Minister yesterday, resigning after just 45 days and prompting a new Conservative Party...

21 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Housing Secretary set for first committee grilling by MPs

Simon Clarke is set for his first grilling by MPs as Levelling Up and Housing Secretary. Clarke will be questioned by the...

18 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Poor Liz and Kwasi. What Do They Do Now?

Who would be in the shoes of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng? I don’t mean who would like their power, pay and...

01 October 2022

From: Features

Activists query why Tory housing fringe event excludes homebuyers and owners

Housing minister Lee Rowley is set to make one of his first official public appearances at a Conservative Party fringe event...

30 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Property Natter - how can agents combat the cost-of-living crisis?

The worst cost-of-living crisis in generations is everywhere we look and agents – and the property industry more widely – are...

24 September 2022

From: Features

New housing minister named amid rumours of a Stamp Duty cut

The latest housing minister has been revealed as the prospect of Stamp Duty reform returns to the property market. New ministerial appointments...

21 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Analysis: What did Boris Johnson do for the UK property market during his 3 years as Prime Minister?

Time is up for Boris Johnson's tenure as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, serving 3 years and 44...

17 September 2022

From: Features

Property Natter - why housing must always have a seat at the top table

First off, my own quick tribute to the Queen, who died on Thursday afternoon aged 96. Despite her age and declining...

10 September 2022

From: Features

Meet the new Housing Secretary who opposes 'toxic building targets'

New Housing Secretary Simon Clarke may be an unknown entity to many agents but he has a track record of supporting...

07 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Simon Clarke named new Housing Secretary

Simon Clarke has been confirmed as the new Housing Secretary in the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Liz Truss this evening. He...

06 September 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents highlight property priorities for the new Prime Minister

From housebuilding to planning laws and stamp duty reform, agents and property professionals were ready with plenty of suggestions for Liz...

06 September 2022

From: Breaking News

More housebuilding clarity needed in levelling up law, MPs warn

MPs have criticised the lack of detail in the government’s flagship Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill when it comes to housebuilding...

25 August 2022

From: Breaking News

Rees-Mogg set for housing brief in a Truss Cabinet - reports

Jacob Rees-Mogg is reportedly being lined up as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should Liz Truss win...

22 August 2022

From: Breaking News

Dear New Prime Minister - here's your housing to-do list

We are only a fortnight away from having a new Prime Minister, following a contest in which housing has played a...

20 August 2022

From: Features

Greg Clark caught up in Rishi Sunak ‘deprived areas’ furore

Housing Secretary Greg Clark, who is also the Levelling Up Secretary, has been caught up in the storm surrounding Rishi Sunak...

08 August 2022

From: Breaking News

Government must fix competitive disadvantage of leasehold reforms

A parliamentary petition calling for ground rent charges to be extended to existing leases has reached the required number of signatures...

28 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Buying reform continues despite Cabinet chaos; leasehold uncertainty remains

A senior member of the Home Buying and Selling Group has insisted work on reforms is ongoing despite the ministerial merry-go-round...

11 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Agency groups hope to 'maintain momentum' with new Housing Secretary

Estate agency trade body Propertymark is hoping to “maintain momentum” with newly appointed Housing Secretary Greg Clark. He replaces Michael Gove, who...

08 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Greg Clark appointed as new Housing Secretary

Greg Clark has been named as the new Housing Secretary. Clark will replace Michael Gove who was sacked by Prime Minister Boris...

07 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Agent calls for housing tsar as minister quits and Gove is sacked

Independent agent Barrows and Forrester has called for the appointment of a housing tsar for a fixed term as yet another...

07 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Michael Gove sacked as Housing Secretary

Michael Gove has been sacked as Housing Secretary as Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to reject calls to resign. Johnson was hit...

06 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Housing Secretary holds on amid Cabinet exits

Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid sensationally quit as Chancellor and Health Secretary respectively this evening but Housing Secretary Michael Gove is...

05 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Expert Analysis: How safe are homes 5 years after the Grenfell Tower tragedy?

It’s the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell fire tragedy, but are high rises any safer today than they were then? On 14th...

18 June 2022

From: Features

Housing Secretary: 'We don't know how Right to Buy will be funded yet'

The government’s new Right to Buy policy for housing association tenants appeared to unravel last night after the Housing Secretary said...

14 June 2022

From: Breaking News

MPs set to quiz Housing Secretary on property market proposals

Housing Secretary Michael Gove and minister Stuart Andrew are set to be grilled by MPs on their property market plans today. The...

13 June 2022

From: Breaking News

Home ownership policy promised as PM survives no-confidence vote

A significant housing announcement has been promised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a part of a sweetener that saw him...

07 June 2022

From: Breaking News

Industry Views - Michael Gove and His Dead Cat

In retrospect, it was perhaps inevitable that the infamous dead cat would come into the debate over government housing targets and...

21 May 2022

From: Features

Trade body hopes empty homes clampdown will boost agency stock

Propertymark has expressed hope that the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will help boost much needed agency supply. The trade body has...

16 May 2022

From: Breaking News

Lack of home buying support blamed for Tory local election losses

A lack of support to help people onto the property ladder has been highlighted as one factor for the Tory party’s...

09 May 2022

From: Breaking News

Right To Buy - what on earth is government playing at?

What a difference two months and some local elections make. Cast your minds back to March 9 and the annual report of...

07 May 2022

From: Features

Former Housing Secretary becomes first MP to welcome Ukrainian refugees

Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick is believed to have become the first MP to take in Ukrainian refugees under the government’s...

19 April 2022

From: Breaking News

More leaseholders freed from doubling ground rents

Fifteen businesses which had bought freeh­olds from housing developer Countryside have now given formal undertakings to remove terms that cause ground...

21 March 2022

From: Breaking News

Cladding Crisis - government STILL doing too little, say cross-party MPs

Too many leaseholders will fall through the cracks of the government’s “piecemeal measures” to combat the cladding crisis.  That’s the view of...

16 March 2022

From: Breaking News

Homes For Ukraine launched by Housing Secretary

The government has now formally launched the Homes For Ukraine scheme, heavily leaked in recent days. The Secretary of State for Levelling...

15 March 2022

From: Breaking News

More politicians back seizure of oligarchs' London property assets

Momentum is building up in support of the government’s probe into whether the London homes of oligarchs on the sanctions list...

04 March 2022

From: Breaking News

Government may seize homes of key Russians without compensation

The government is considering seizing British property owned by Russian oligarchs on the sanctions list without paying compensation. The Financial Times says Housing...

03 March 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents tell Gove empty homes could solve stock shortage

Agents have told Housing Secretary Michael Gove that his Levelling Up agenda needs to include positive efforts to bring hundreds of...

02 March 2022

From: Breaking News

Government threatens developers over cladding payments

The government is threatening to deny planning consent to developers who refuse to pay towards the removal of unsafe cladding on...

16 February 2022

From: Breaking News

Housing Reform proposals to change economy by 2030

The government’s new Levelling Up White Paper, revealed this morning includes a radical reshaping of the private rental sector. Section 21 eviction...

02 February 2022

From: Breaking News

Boris Johnson’s Successor: what next for housing policies?

Will he stay or will he go? You don’t need me to say who ‘he’ is - it’s the only story...

22 January 2022

From: Features

Tax clampdown on second homes announced by government

Owners of second homes who abuse a tax loophole by claiming their often-empty properties are holiday lets will be forced to...

14 January 2022

From: Breaking News

Too many homes built on at-risk floodplains, government told

The government should reset planning policy and scrap proposals for thousands of new homes in high-risk flood areas. The think-tank Localis, in...

22 November 2021

From: Breaking News

Budget: Details of business rate changes and new development tax

The Budget has proven more generous than many expected - and with most property taxation left unchanged. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has made...

27 October 2021

From: Breaking News

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