Labour's Housing Plans: What We Know So Far

Labour has set the agenda for its tenure in government this month with the King’s Speech at the opening of Parliament. The speech focussed on 39 bills that the new prime minister plans to deliver. Here are the elements relevant to the housing sector:

• Abolish Section 21: Eliminating "no-fault" evictions to prevent landlords from evicting tenants without providing a specific reason (which will be set out in law).
• Expanded Grounds for Possession: Introducing clear and expanded legal grounds for landlords to reclaim properties, ensuring evictions are justified.
• PRS Ombudsman: Establishing a Private Rented Sector Ombudsman to provide impartial and binding resolutions to disputes between landlords and tenants, reducing the need for court proceedings.
• Decent Homes Standard (DHS): Implementing a DHS to ensure rental properties meet minimum standards before they can be let. This standard aims to improve living conditions across the PRS.
• Awaabs Law: Setting clear legal expectations for landlords and agents to respond promptly to hazards reported during tenancies, ensuring rental homes are safe and healthy.
• Tenant Rights: Including the right for tenants to keep pets and protection against discrimination based on having children or receiving benefits.

• Lease Extension and Freehold Purchase: Improving the process for leaseholders to extend their leases and buy the freehold of their properties, making it more accessible and
  affordable.
• Ground Rent Regulation: Regulating ground rents for existing leaseholders to prevent excessive charges.
• Promoting Commonhold: Consulting on ways to restrict the sale of new leasehold flats and reinvigorating the commonhold tenure, moving towards ending leasehold in England and Wales.

• Unlocking Growth: Aiming to unlock more housing and infrastructure across England and Wales to support sustained economic growth.
  
• Local Planning Authorities: Increasing the capacity of local planning authorities to improve performance and speed up decision-making processes.
• Modernising Planning Committees: Reforming planning committees to enhance local decision-making efficiency and effectiveness.
• Compulsory Purchase Compensation: Reforming rules to ensure fair compensation for landowners while facilitating the development of social and physical infrastructure and affordable
  housing.
• Simplifying Consenting Processes: Streamlining the consenting processes for major infrastructure projects to expedite development.
• Brownfield Sites Priority: Prioritising development on brownfield sites (previously developed land) before considering green belt options, supporting sustainable land use.

• National Grid Upgrades: Prioritising upgrades to the national grid to support renewable energy expansion.
• Renewable Energy Boost: Encouraging the development of renewable energy sources to promote environmental sustainability.
• Nature Recovery Initiatives: Using development projects as a mechanism to fund and support nature recovery efforts.

• Transferring Powers: Easing the transfer of powers to local authorities, enabling them to address local issues more effectively.
• Strategic Planning and Infrastructure: Enhancing local authorities' abilities to manage strategic planning, local transport networks, and infrastructure development.
• Community Asset "Right to Buy": Allowing local councils to acquire and repurpose empty shops, pubs, and community spaces to revitalise struggling high streets and communities.
• Local Growth Plans: Empower local leaders to develop and implement Local Growth Plans tailored to their communities' needs.

• Respect Orders: Introducing new legal tools to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour by tenants or within communities.
• Neighbourhood Policing: Reviving community-focused policing strategies, mandating local authorities and partners to work together to address local issues effectively.