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To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in reaching their target of building 1.5 million homes in this Parliament.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in reaching their target of building 1.5 million homes in this Parliament.
My Lords, we are driving progress through our bold planning reforms: the £39 billion social and affordable homes programme fund, and our new £16 billion National Housing Bank, which is expected to support over 500,000 homes. Alongside programmes such as the New Homes Accelerator and Small Sites Aggregator, we are working with industry and local authorities to deliver the homes this country needs. The latest statistics, published in June, show that an estimated 392,400 net additional homes have been built this Parliament, with a 15% increase in starts and a 54% increase in outlying planning proposals.
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for her reply, but only Ministers believe that the 1.5 million target is achievable; even the National Audit Office said that the chances are slim. The Prime Minister has recently decided to channel public money for housing away from housing associations and through local authorities. First, does the Minister agree that this means we will get fewer social homes, because housing associations can top up public money with private borrowing while the local authorities cannot? Will she urge him to change direction? Secondly, does she agree that many of those renting could afford a mortgage if they had some help with a deposit? Has she read today’s Financial Times, which indicates that the previous Secretary of State urged the Government, before he was sacked, to introduce a successor to Help
to Buy? Will she urge the Prime Minister to continue with that, as this will give the market the confidence it so badly needs?
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for her reply, but only Ministers believe that the 1.5 million target is achievable; even the National Audit Office said that the chances are slim. The Prime Minister has recently decided to channel public money for housing away from housing associations and through local authorities. First, does the Minister agree that this means we will get fewer social homes, because housing associations can top up public money with private borrowing while the local authorities cannot? Will she urge him to change direction? Secondly, does she agree that many of those renting could afford a mortgage if they had some help with a deposit? Has she read today’s Financial Times, which indicates that the previous Secretary of State urged the Government, before he was sacked, to introduce a successor to Help
to Buy? Will she urge the Prime Minister to continue with that, as this will give the market the confidence it so badly needs?
On the noble Lord’s first question, the Prime Minister was talking about support between local authorities and housing associations. It is important that we have good collaboration between the two partners in delivering social housing. I look forward to a very productive relationship between local government and our registered providers. I do not believe that it will lower the number of houses that can be delivered, particularly as we now have the National Housing Bank that this Government brought in. I will write to the noble Lord on his second question.
My Lords, the House of Lords Select Committee on Social Mobility produced a report in which we looked at the careers service. In the words of our report, we found it very patchy across the country. We also looked at the careers service in schools and found it to be enormously varied and fragmented. To what extent will this new structure deal with those issues of uneven quality of service across the country?
My Lords, the House of Lords Select Committee on Social Mobility produced a report in which we looked at the careers service. In the words of our report, we found it very patchy across the country. We also looked at the careers service in schools and found it to be enormously varied and fragmented. To what extent will this new structure deal with those issues of uneven quality of service across the country?
The merger does not affect provision in schools—that remains the responsibility of the Department for Education—but I will make sure my colleagues have seen the report from the House of Lords committee and are addressing it. The merged service will be in a single place, so, for example, a work coach who meets somebody coming into a jobcentre who needs help then has the capacity to refer them directly, if that is what they most need, because the colleagues providing those services will also be working for DWP. That will make a difference. We will also be in a position to set clear performance standards and expectations across the whole of our network, so I hope that will address some of the issues the noble Lord has described.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of private renters spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs; and how this proportion compares with previous years.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of private renters spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs; and how this proportion compares with previous years.
My Department collects data on income and rent for households via the English Housing Survey and regularly reports on income in relation to housing costs. The latest published data can be found in the 2024-25 Headline Report Annex Table 2.5. and the 2023-24 Rented Sectors Report Annex Table 1.11.
Data for older years is also available at English Housing Survey - GOV.UK
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of local authorities which have increased enforcement action against landlords in the private rented sector in each of the last five years; and what assessment they have made of the resources available to local authorities for enforcement.
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of local authorities which have increased enforcement action against landlords in the private rented sector in each of the last five years; and what assessment they have made of the resources available to local authorities for enforcement.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) does not currently collect data that would enable an assessment of changes in enforcement activity against landlords at local authority level over the last five years. From April 2027 we intend to require local authorities to provide MHCLG with a suite of data on the private rented sector in their local area. We expect that data to include, for example, the number of formal enforcement notices issued; the number of civil penalties issued by category of offence; revenue received from civil penalties; total number of staff in private rented sector enforcement teams; and total spend on private rented sector enforcement.
Through the Renters’ Rights Act, the government is strengthening local authorities’ enforcement powers and extending and increasing ring-fenced civil penalties to support a ‘polluter pays’ approach to enforcement in the private rented sector.
In accordance with the new burdens doctrine, we will ensure additional net costs on local authorities resulting from the Act are fully funded. To that end, the Department is providing £41.12 million to local housing authorities for this financial year to help them undertake their new enforcement responsibilities. This funding is in addition to the £18.2 million provided in 2025/26.
Our intention is to use fees from the Private Rented Sector Database to provide funding over the long term for local authorities to use on work to improve compliance in the private rented sector.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the average age at which first-time buyers purchase a home in England; and what assessment they have made of the impact of housing affordability on younger households.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the average age at which first-time buyers purchase a home in England; and what assessment they have made of the impact of housing affordability on younger households.
I refer the Noble Lord to the English Housing Survey, available on GOV.UK (here), which shows that the average (mean) age of first-time buyers in England was 34 in 2024-25.
This government recognises that the affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government is supporting people into home ownership, including through the shared ownership scheme and the Lifetime ISA, and is consulting on a new first-time buyer ISA product.
First time buyers also benefit from paying no Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) up to £300,000 and are able to claim relief on purchases up to £500,000. The government has also introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers.
Additionally, the Bank of England has been easing the loan-to-income limit, enabling up to 36,000 additional first-time buyers in the first year. The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) ongoing review of the mortgage market means many buyers can now borrow 10% more towards a property purchase.
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of planning consents for residential development which have expired without construction beginning in each of the last five years; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for non-delivery.
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of planning consents for residential development which have expired without construction beginning in each of the last five years; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for non-delivery.
My Department does not collect the requested data and has made no such estimate.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether current housebuilding rates are delivering the correct balance of market, affordable, and social, housing required to meet household need.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether current housebuilding rates are delivering the correct balance of market, affordable, and social, housing required to meet household need.
The government is committed to boosting the supply of homes of all tenures as part of its commitment to build 1.5m safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament.
We are supporting the housing sector to deliver these with our major planning reforms, through our new £16bn National Housing Bank to deliver 500k homes and £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme to get the homes families and communities need built
The revised National Planning Policy Framework includes policies designed promote mixed tenure development. The type of housing delivered, and those delivering it, will vary depending on the needs of a local area and how development has been planned for. It is for local planning authorities, to assess the housing need of their communities. This should be informed by a local housing need assessment, conducted using the government’s revised standard method.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relationship between local housing allowance rates and the availability of affordable accommodation in the private rental sector.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relationship between local housing allowance rates and the availability of affordable accommodation in the private rental sector.
The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum financial support available for renters in the private rented sector. LHA rates are not intended to meet all rents in all areas.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions reviewed LHA at the 2025 Autumn Budget and announced that rates would be maintained at their current levels for 2026/27. A range of factors, such as rent levels and the housing markets across the country were considered against the fiscal context and the level of housing support that Government provides overall.
Renters receiving housing support who face a shortfall in meeting their rent costs can apply for a Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment from local authorities in England.
To ask The Leader of the House when she expects a Written Answer to be given to the question asked by Lord Young of Cookham on 11 June (HL905).
To ask The Leader of the House when she expects a Written Answer to be given to the question asked by Lord Young of Cookham on 11 June (HL905).
The question was answered by the Department for Education on the 14th July 2026. I apologise for the delay and have reminded the department of the need to meet the response target of 10 working days.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the House of Lords Social Mobility Policy Committee report Social Mobility: Local Roots, Lasting Change, published on 18 November 2025.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the House of Lords Social Mobility Policy Committee report Social Mobility: Local Roots, Lasting Change, published on 18 November 2025.
The House of Lords Social Mobility Policy Committee report 'Social Mobility: Local Roots, Lasting Change' will be responded to by 23 July 2026.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote home ownership for first time buyers.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote home ownership for first time buyers.
My Lords, the Government are reforming the broken home-buying and home-selling system to slash delays, cuts costs and stop sales falling through. Last week—it was on Friday, so it may not have got the attention it deserved, like my noble friend’s announcement—we published a road map setting out actions the Government are taking. Our new changes will cut home-buying times by around four weeks and save first-time buyers an average of £650.We are supporting first-time buyers through a range of routes, including shared ownership and the lifetime ISA, while addressing the root causes of unaffordability by increasing house supply and investing in affordable homes.
My Lords, I welcome the announcement on Friday. The Minister listed a number of schemes to help first-time buyers, but actually
none of them has moved the dial, leaving many young people who are renting and want to be owner-occupiers paying more in rent than they would with a mortgage. Recently, the Prime Minister said:
“For my family growing up, the roof over our heads was everything. But for so many families today, home ownership is a distant dream. My Government will make it a reality once again”.
Would it not be a fitting part of his legacy if, within the next few weeks, he was able to make an announcement that brought those dreams closer?
My Lords, I welcome the announcement on Friday. The Minister listed a number of schemes to help first-time buyers, but actually
none of them has moved the dial, leaving many young people who are renting and want to be owner-occupiers paying more in rent than they would with a mortgage. Recently, the Prime Minister said:
“For my family growing up, the roof over our heads was everything. But for so many families today, home ownership is a distant dream. My Government will make it a reality once again”.
Would it not be a fitting part of his legacy if, within the next few weeks, he was able to make an announcement that brought those dreams closer?
We are already doing that. We made that announcement on Friday. From speaking to lenders, we know that many first-time buyers are not aware of all the innovative mortgage products that might help them, or that recent mortgage reforms may help them get on the housing ladder. I had a meeting with the Building Societies Association just a couple of weeks ago, and I met again with the round table that developed this road map last week. It is true that mortgage brokers can help potential homebuyers to find options that may be suitable for them. There are some fantastic new products coming forward. Anyone who read the Metro last week may have seen a wraparound from Lloyds saying it was introducing £5,000-deposit mortgages, back for the first time since 1996. So things are moving and changing, and the road map will help that even further.
The Minister will know that contractors acting for the Home Office—Clearsprings and Serco—are bidding for private rented accommodation as asylum seekers move out of hotels. Local authorities are also looking for private rented accommodation as they move families with children in temporary accommodation into the private rented sector. This is resulting in a local bidding war between
two publicly funded authorities, driving up the price of private rented accommodation, which is already suffering from the consequences of the Renters’ Rights Act. Should there not be some memorandum of understanding or concordat to prevent what is happening on the ground in local authority areas?
The Minister will know that contractors acting for the Home Office—Clearsprings and Serco—are bidding for private rented accommodation as asylum seekers move out of hotels. Local authorities are also looking for private rented accommodation as they move families with children in temporary accommodation into the private rented sector. This is resulting in a local bidding war between
two publicly funded authorities, driving up the price of private rented accommodation, which is already suffering from the consequences of the Renters’ Rights Act. Should there not be some memorandum of understanding or concordat to prevent what is happening on the ground in local authority areas?
That is a very sound point. We are trying to consult with local authorities and work with them closely. We have put in place some 59 local authority support areas, where we have placed asylum move-on liaison officers to work with the local authorities to look at what the asylum move-on is and what the pressures are locally. That is an innovation, following on from the previous Government—the 59 officers were not there previously. The noble Lord makes a sensible point. We do not want a bidding war but ultimately, we have to provide accommodation, and in a positive and constructive way.
My Lords, it is time someone spoke up for the cyclist. Unlike the noble Lord, Lord Shamash, I like e-bikes. I am one of a number of noble Lords on the other side of middle age who use e-bikes—legal e-bikes—to get around. Our case is undermined by illegal e-bikes being driven dangerously, often by delivery drivers. The City of London Police confiscates and destroys five illegal e-bikes every week. Should not more police forces do that and give wide publicity to that, in order to reduce this abuse?
My Lords, it is time someone spoke up for the cyclist. Unlike the noble Lord, Lord Shamash, I like e-bikes. I am one of a number of noble Lords on the other side of middle age who use e-bikes—legal e-bikes—to get around. Our case is undermined by illegal e-bikes being driven dangerously, often by delivery drivers. The City of London Police confiscates and destroys five illegal e-bikes every week. Should not more police forces do that and give wide publicity to that, in order to reduce this abuse?
The noble Lord is right, and in pursuit of his desires, the Metropolitan Police recently seized 52 illegal e-bikes and mopeds. A total of 2,741 were seized across 2025-26. West Midlands Police seized more than 50, and Greater Manchester Police seized six and removed 55 locally. Merseyside Police seized over 500, Nottinghamshire Police around 100 and South Yorkshire Police over 150. So, we are starting to see proper enforcement across Britain, and the more publicity all that gets, the better.
My Lords, young people are paying more in rent than they are on a mortgage, and so they would not need to join the queue for affordable housing if they had some help with a deposit. I put again to the Minister the question I posed to her in April, when she conceded that there was more work to be done. What progress has she been able to make in discussions with the developers, the financial institutions and the Treasury to bring forward a successor to the Help to Buy scheme, on which the then Government made a profit of £1.4 billion last time?
My Lords, young people are paying more in rent than they are on a mortgage, and so they would not need to join the queue for affordable housing if they had some help with a deposit. I put again to the Minister the question I posed to her in April, when she conceded that there was more work to be done. What progress has she been able to make in discussions with the developers, the financial institutions and the Treasury to bring forward a successor to the Help to Buy scheme, on which the then Government made a profit of £1.4 billion last time?
A detailed analysis has been done of the Help to Buy scheme, and we will learn lessons from it. We will not reintroduce it as it was, but I agree with the noble Lord that, for many young people renting property, their rent is higher than a mortgage payment would be. Since I gave him my previous answer, I have been working with the sector. A wide variety of mortgage products are available in the UK, including a range of products available at a high loan-to-value ratio, such as 95% and even 100%. I met the Building Societies Association last week, and it is very keen to offer more innovative products that can help first-time buyers, including some that take account of a track record of paying rent, as they deal with a mortgage application. These are innovative systems. We know that many first-time buyers are not aware of the mortgage products that may help them, so we are working on a communications campaign. The Building Societies Association is doing its own, and the Government will also do something to make people aware of the steps they can take to get on to the housing ladder.
Lords announcement on conduct of proceedings in Grand Committee.
Lords announcement on conduct of proceedings in Grand Committee.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote home ownership for first-time buyers.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote home ownership for first-time buyers.
My Lords, we are increasing housing supply across all tenures to improve affordability for young people. Our ultimate objective is to help more people get the keys to their first home, increasing the overall home ownership rate. We support first-time buyers through government-backed schemes, including shared ownership, and the Treasury will shortly consult on a replacement for the lifetime ISA. Following FCA clarification, most buyers can borrow around 10% more, and this year we will publish a home-buying and selling reform road map, which is expected to save buyers £180 million a year and shave a month off transactions.
I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Recently, the Prime Minister said:
“For my family growing up, the roof over our heads was everything. But for so many families today, homeownership is a distant dream. My government will make it a reality once again”.
For millions of people renting or living with their parents, it remains a dream. Many of them could actually afford the mortgage repayments, but without
access to generous relatives, they cannot afford the deposit. Back in January, when I asked the Minister about hope for first-time buyers, she said:
“A great deal of work is going on in my department and with financial institutions to make sure that we make this process work for first-time buyers and others in the housing market
”.—[Official Report, 8/1/26; col. 1314.]
Should there not now be a fresh initiative to deliver the Prime Minister’s promise?
I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Recently, the Prime Minister said:
“For my family growing up, the roof over our heads was everything. But for so many families today, homeownership is a distant dream. My government will make it a reality once again”.
For millions of people renting or living with their parents, it remains a dream. Many of them could actually afford the mortgage repayments, but without
access to generous relatives, they cannot afford the deposit. Back in January, when I asked the Minister about hope for first-time buyers, she said:
“A great deal of work is going on in my department and with financial institutions to make sure that we make this process work for first-time buyers and others in the housing market
”.—[Official Report, 8/1/26; col. 1314.]
Should there not now be a fresh initiative to deliver the Prime Minister’s promise?
The noble Lord will not be surprised to know that I always agree with my right honourable friend the Prime Minister. Of course I also welcome the HCLG Select Committee’s work, which has particularly looked at the types of inequalities that the noble Lord highlights. Three in 10 people get help from family or parents and, increasingly, access is being determined by family wealth, not earnings. We are working hard on this. From speaking to lenders, we know that many first-time buyers are not aware of all the innovative mortgage products and recent mortgage reforms that may help them get on the housing ladder. We speak regularly to lenders on how to raise awareness of different options among first-time buyers, including hosting two major industry round tables last year, both of which were covered in the mainstream media. Of course, there is more work to do, and the Government are keen for all stakeholders who work with potential first-time buyers, including estate agents and brokers, to play their part in helping them understand their options.
Lords announcement on conduct of proceedings in Grand Committee.
Lords announcement on conduct of proceedings in Grand Committee.