The UK housing market is already a top focus for the new Labour government, who seem keen to get to work on some new property laws.
‘Getting Britain building‘ is a catchphrase we’ve already heard a lot from new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, right through his election campaign and through the doors of 10 Downing Street, and this was unsurprisingly also a focal point in this week’s King’s Speech.
It marked the first King’s Speech by King Charles for the Labour government in the House of Lords, and marks the state opening of Parliament, kicking off this parliamentary year. The speech is written by the government – now under Labour – and then delivered by the king.
The speech this week included 40 key policy bills that are set to become law over the coming months or years, shining a spotlight on what will be Labour’s top priorities at the helm. This included some property laws that will take centre stage for the party and the country.
Property laws to get Britain building
Along with committing to stability in economic policy, and economic growth, King Charles stated:
“My Ministers will get Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high quality infrastructure and housing [Planning and Infrastructure Bill]. They will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.”
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is expected to be one of the most important new property laws when it comes to the overriding goal of “getting Britain building”. It will mean improving the planning system at a local level, modernising planning committees and increasing local authorities’ capacity to deliver improved services.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We will reform the planning rules to build the homes and infrastructure the country desperately needs.
“We will level up workers’ rights, so every person has security, respect and dignity at work; we will create a new industrial strategy and invest in cleaner, cheaper British energy; and we will harness the power of artificial intelligence as we look to strengthen safety frameworks.”
The plan is to build more homes of all tenures – including rental homes – while accelerating the delivery of infrastructure to support this.
More rights for leaseholders
One of the prospective new property laws that has been discussed for many years now is one that will reform the UK property market’s ties to controversial leasehold property.
King Charles stated that “draft legislation will be published on leasehold and commonhold reform [Draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill].”
Ultimately, the goal will be to end the leasehold system that has been described widely by ministers and protestors as archaic, whereby thousands of homeowners do not actually own the building they live in, but just a lease allowing them to live there.
Property laws for tenants
The King said: “Legislation will be introduced to give greater rights and protections to people renting their homes, including ending no fault evictions and reforming grounds for possession 9 [Renters’ Rights Bill].” This is something Sir Keir Starmer has also vowed to work on straight away.
He said: “Too many people currently live with the threat of insecurity and injustice, and so we will make sure everyone can grow up in the secure housing they deserve. We will introduce tough new protections for renters, end no fault evictions and raise standards to make sure homes are safe for people to live in.”
The Renters Reform Bill is not one of Labour’s own property laws, as it has been in the making by the previous government for some years, and it must now get over the final hurdle to become law.
It aims to strengthen the rights of tenants, while improving standards across the sector as a whole. It also intends to outlaw discrimination, making it fairer for those renting with pets, children or on benefits.
