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Housing and Planning Bill 2015-16 Update

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Housing and Planning Bill 2015-16 Update

There has been some progress and many setbacks on the Housing and Planning Bill since we summarised it in January (read that article here).

According to the BPF, the Bill is coming to the end of report stage in the House of Lords, and the government has thus far suffered various defeats on Starter Homes, pay to stay, and other policies. 

Both peers and the government are trying to slot last minute changes into the bill at present, including amendments on leasehold policy, to make it easier to glean the names of owners in order to establish a recognised tenants association, and to give courts more discretion over whether landlords should be able to recover litigation costs. Amendments have also been tabled regarding private rented sector policy, including provisions to introduce compulsory electrical safety checks, subject to further consultation.

This stage of the bill is the last chance for any peers who wish to table amendments on subjects of interest. We will be keeping a close on eye on amendments that seek to introduce possible constraints on permitted development rights, as well as those that support client money protection for letting agents. With, in effect, a minority government in the Lords, the next few days of the bill will prove very interesting.

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About the author

Martin Silman

Martin began his landlord journey 30 years ago, while working in an international role for a global telecommunications company. Since retiring he has extended his portfolio, which he manages with his wife, but has always focussed on the ‘small student HMO’ sector preferring to offer homes in the community for small groups to the more common ‘pack them in and take the money’ mentality. He has chaired the PDPLA for the past 12 years and has overseen the Associations transition from small local self-help group to a much larger and more professional institution which is recognised and listened to nationally. Alongside his PDPLA role, he also has leadership roles in a number of other local organisations – bringing his unique perspective, driving for change and increased use of technology while respecting the history that brought us here.

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