According to a survey by Landbay, when asked in May who the housing minister was, many landlords said it was Angela Rayner – who was the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government until she resigned over a stamp duty scandal in September.
Other responses included Lisa Nandy, Julie James – the Welsh Senedd member and Minister for Delivery – and Baroness Rachel Maclean – a former housing minister under Rishi Sunak.
Landlords surveyed said the position had changed too many times to keep track with, while others added that it was likely to change again.
Pennycook is the 17th housing minister since 2010, with the person in the role changing six times between 2022 and 2023 alone.
The housing minister’s key responsibilities include:
Mind the affordability gap
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- Planning reform and the National Planning Policy Framework (including legislation such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill)
- Housing delivery, including large-scale new settlements programme (New Towns)
- Brownfield Infrastructure Land and Housing Infrastructure Funds
- Housing supply strategy
- Homes England and Planning Inspectorate sponsorship
- HM Land Registry and land transparency
- Social housing
- Social and Affordable Homes Programme
- Housing quality
- Private rented sector and Renters’ Rights Bill
- Leasehold and commonhold reform
- Planning casework
Even the role of Housing Secretary has changed frequently, with Steve Reed being the 12th since 2010 and the second of the Labour government.
Rob Stanton, sales and distribution director at Landbay, said: “Given the fact that landlords have had to contend with a revolving door of housing ministers for more than decade, it should come as no surprise to see them struggling to keep track of who currently holds the post.
“One way for ministers to fix this issue is to actively engage with the landlord community, understand their challenges and recognise the vital role they play in propping up the housing market and providing housing for one in five households in England and Wales. Instead, they continue to test the incredible resilience of landlords with unhelpful rhetoric and one-sided legislation.
“While ministers and policy may change, landlords can rely on the BTL market for continued support – whether it’s the expert advice of intermediaries to facilitate deals, or lenders such as Landbay continuing to drive innovation to support landlords in expanding or refinancing. The combination of quality advice and agile, forward-thinking lending will enable landlords to navigate this shifting landscape and confidently plan for the long term.”
