The Cladding External Wall System (EWS)
Constituents who are trying to sell/re-mortgage leasehold flats in blocks are asking about a new requirement for an EWS1 form. This page explains what the EWS process is and associated issues.
Leasehold high-rise flats: who pays for fire safety work?
This paper considers the debate about who is responsible for paying for fire safety works on blocks of flats in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. It covers progress in implementing the Government decision to fund remediation work for affected blocks with ACM cladding in the social and private sectors. In March 2020, a £1 billion Building Safety Fund was announced to fund the removal of unsafe non-ACM cladding on high-rise blocks in the social and private sectors. Additional funding of £3.5 billion was announced on 10 February 2021. Ongoing issues include the adequacy of the funding available and how historic defects, such as a lack of fire stopping measures, will be paid for.
Mortgage Arrears and Repossessions (England)
This House of Commons Library briefing paper outlines temporary measures to assist homeowners to manage their mortgage payments during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. It considers lenders’ obligations towards homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments, outlines possible sources of advice for mortgagors, and discusses the mortgage support schemes that were introduced in response to the 2008 financial crisis.
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Research Briefing
Stimulating housing supply – Government initiatives (England)
This briefing paper summarises the main Government initiatives since 2015 aimed at increasing housing supply in England, aside from planning measures. The 2019 Government is continuing, and building on many of these initiatives.
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Research Briefing
Leasehold and commonhold reform
This paper considers trends in leasehold ownership, ongoing problems associated with the sector, and Government plans for reform. The 2017 Government committed to legislate in this area "as soon as Parliamentary time allows". The Conservative Manifesto 2019 contained a pledge to “continue with our reforms to leasehold.” There is an intention to legislate in the forthcoming Parliamentary Session to set future ground rents to zero as the first part of "seminal two-part reforming legislation in this Parliament". The paper includes analysis of leasehold transaction data, including constituency statistics.
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Research Briefing
Stamp duty land tax on residential property
This Commons Library paper discusses the reforms to taxation of sales of residential property that have been made in recent years, before looking at earlier debates about the way house sales have been taxed.
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Constituency Casework
Leasehold reform in England and Wales: What’s happening and when?
The Government will reform leasehold tenure and make buying/extending lease agreements “easier, faster, fairer and cheaper”. There’ll be a two-part legislative process. This page explains what’s known about the reforms and timetable.
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Research Briefing
Freehold Covenants
This Commons Library briefing paper provides information about the freehold covenants. Specifically, detecting, enforcing, modifying or releasing a covenant.
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Data Dashboard
Constituency data: house prices
Constituency-level data on house prices and an indicator of the affordability of house prices in each area
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Research Briefing
Shared ownership (England): the fourth tenure?
This House of Commons Library briefing paper explains how shared ownership housing operates in England. It outlines Government policies to extend shared ownership, including proposals for a new national model for shared ownership and a new right to shared ownership for housing association tenants. The paper also examines the key barriers to extending shared ownership.
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Research Briefing
Freehold houses: estate charges
It is becoming increasingly common on new-build private estates for freeholders to be required to contribute to the maintenance of the estate’s communal areas and facilities. This practice has been referred to as 'fleecehold'. This short paper provides background on the issue and sets out the Government's proposed reforms. The paper mainly covers England - section 7 covers Wales.
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Research Briefing
New-build housing: construction defects – issues and solutions (England)
This briefing paper considers the building control regime and customers’ means of redress when faced with defects in newly built housing. It summarises the findings of the All-Party Parliamentary Group's 2016 inquiry and recommended actions and explains the Government and industry response.
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Research Briefing
What is affordable housing?
This briefing paper considers how affordable housing is defined in England and looks at key trends in the affordability of different tenure types. It examines the supply of affordable housing and the role of Housing Benefit in enabling households to access and retain affordable housing. The paper has been updated to include new data on housing affordability.
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Research Briefing
Implementation of the Housing and Planning Act 2016
The Housing and Planning Act 2016 (HPA 2016) received Royal Assent on 12 May 2016. This briefing paper outlines progress in implementing the Act's provisions. Several key measures in the Act will not be taken forward, such as 'pay to stay' and mandatory fixed-term tenancies for local authority landlords in England.
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Research Briefing
Anti-social neighbours living in private housing (England)
This briefing paper outlines the legal position and potential remedies available where people find themselves living next door to tenants of private landlords or owner-occupiers who exhibit anti-social behaviour (ASB). The briefing focuses on the legal position in England.
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