Just ten months after resigning over a stamp duty error, Angela Rayner is back at the top table of housing policy. New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reappointed her as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and as your local property experts, we think this comeback is worth paying attention to.
Rayner steps into the shoes of Steve Reed and picks up his house buying reform programme, first announced in June. She will also take charge of any private rent controls that come out of the government’s devolution plans, plus the council reorganisation proposals confirmed only last week. Add in her role in Burnham’s wider devolution agenda and it is clear this is one of the busiest briefs in Cabinet, touching everything from how you buy your next home to how your local council is run.
So what does this mean if you are buying, selling or letting right now? In a word, continuity. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook stays in post, which should keep the reform programme moving rather than sending it back to the drawing board. If you are a landlord, keep a close eye on how rent control plans develop, since these could reshape the letting market before too long.
We keep a close watch on policy changes like this so you do not have to, and we will share updates as the reform programme takes shape. Curious how it might affect your own plans to buy, sell or let? Our team is always happy to talk it through. Get in touch with your local Drivers & Norris branch today.
Source: Estate Agent Today
— Drivers & Norris