By Isle of Wight Observer
Following the recent general election, the State Opening of Parliament marked the formal start of the parliamentary year and the King’s Speech set out the government’s proposed policies and legislation for the coming session. Below we cast a spotlight on what the new Labour government’s law-making plans mean for housing and planning.
– There was a pledge to get Britain building, including through planning reform by seeking to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The Bill will streamline the process for approving critical infrastructure and overhaul rules on the compulsory purchase of land. The new government will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.
– A Renters’ Rights Bill will be introduced to give greater rights and protections to people renting their homes, including an end to no fault evictions and reforming grounds for a landlord to obtain possession. This legislation will also extend a series of building safety rules for social tenants, known as Awaab’s Law, to private renters.
– Draft legislation will be published on leasehold and commonhold reform which will curb ground rent for existing leaseholders and ban forfeiture, a process by which leaseholders can be threatened with losing their home over small unpaid debts. In addition, the new legislation proposes to ban the sale of all leasehold flats and make commonhold the default tenure.
Many of the above were already well known to the industry, including those that have been picked up as loose ends of the previous government. So, all that remains now is for Labour to deliver on the promises made.
If you would like to speak to a member of the Biscoes Residential Property team please contact us on 01983 533938.