Meet the new Secretary of State and Minister for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and what they plan to do for the housing sector.
Following a landslide victory in the 4 July General Election, Labour have been appointed the new leaders of the UK Government. This means we will have a new Secretary of State and Minister for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Letting agents need to be aware of what the party plans to deliver for housing now and what their main focus will be in the future.
Find out more about the new leaders of the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
- Who is our new housing secretary?
- Who is the new housing minister?
- What are the first actions for housing?
Who is the new Secretary of State for Housing?
It was announced on 5 July that Angela Rayner will be the new Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Rayner has also been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister.
In September 2023, Rayner was appointed shadow Housing Secretary, replacing Lisa Nandy. She has spent 10 months overseeing the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities under previous Secretary of State, Michael Gove.
Social and council housing is an important focus for the new Secretary of State, stating in a speech last year: “It was a council home that once gave me that security - security that broke down the barriers to opportunity”.
During last year’s Labour Party Conference, Rayner pledged to create “the biggest boost in affordable and social housing for a generation”.
Rayner has also stated plans to “immediately” ban Section 21 no-fault evictions for private landlords. However, there is no clear plan on how this will be achieved.
⚠️ Find out other key policies and what to expect from the new Labour Government ⚠️
Who is the new housing minister?
The Minister of State will help assist the Secretary of State in delivering key policies and help with complex issues within the department.
It was announced on the 7 July that Matthew Pennycook will become Housing Minister, assisting Angela Rayner in the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
As MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, Pennycook has experience within the housing sector, having worked in close detail with the Renters (Reform) Bill.
Pennycook tabled amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill that prevented landlords from selling a property for two years after a tenancy. He has also stated in 2023 that he would want to see the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) implemented within the sector.
With regards to abolishing Section 21, Pennycook has also stated that before abolishing no-fault evictions “we all want the court processes to be quicker”.
Jim McMahon has also been appointed Minister in the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. He will be covering homelessness within the department.
What are the first actions for housing?
At a press conference made by Rachel Reeves, the newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 8 July, Labour has committed to build 14,000 new homes will be built across England.
"We can't build overnight, but that's why we have set out today the initial steps that we are going to take to unlock private sector investments to build those homes," Reeves stated.
Reeves has also promised within 72 hours, new measures will be implemented in housing through planning reforms.
Going forward Angela Rayner will be writing to planning authorities to ensure “they're prioritising brownfield and greybelt land to meet housing targets”.
To meet housebuilding targets, the Labour Party also plan to review greenbelt boundaries to prioritise brownfield and greybelt land.
During the King’s Speech, we find out the new priorities of the new government will have in the upcoming months. This speech will take place on 17 July.
