Reed becomes new housing secretary after Rayner exit   – Mortgage Strategy

Steve Reed has become the new housing secretary following the resignation of Angela Rayner over her tax affairs.

He moves from his post as secretary of state for environment, food, and rural affairs, which he took up after Labour won the General Election last July.

The MP for Streatham and Croydon North comes into a role at the centre of the government’s economic and social agenda, as it targets building 1.5 million homes before the end of this parliament.

Reed’s (pictured) first big task in his new job may come as soon as Monday, when he is likely to open the final Commons debate on the Renter’s Rights Bill.

The wide-ranging legislation plans to include limiting rent increases to once a year, moves to end bidding wars, scrapping fixed-term tenancies, as well as banning Section 21 no-fault possessions.

National Residential Landlords Association chief executive Ben Beadle says: “At a time of substantial change for the rental market, we look forward to working constructively with him [Reed].”

“Top of the agenda will need to be ensuring the smooth implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill.”

“Alongside this, there is a desperate need to support long-term investment in new decent quality homes to rent and ensure the private rented sector operates on the basis of trust and confidence between landlords and tenants.”

But Reed’s key task will be to oversee the most ambitious housebuilding programme in the UK since the 1970s.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, introduced by his new department and making its way through parliament, will be central to that.

Labour says this legislation will sweep aside planning objections and speed up decisions “to get Britain building again” and boost economic growth.

It hopes that once the Bill is passed, it can be used to kick-start the building of new homes and major projects in the final three years of this parliament.

Labour says the Bill will not only boost housebuilding but “fast-track” 150 planning decisions on major economic infrastructure projects over the next four years.

The property industry is looking to Reed to continue Rayner’s commitment to boosting housebuilding and streamlining key parts of the housebuying process.

Developer Pocket Living chief executive Paul Rickard says: “It is vital that the next secretary of state for housing continues with their predecessor’s commitment to reforming the planning system and getting Britain building again.”

“With housing starts at near record lows, only by taking decisive action on the barriers to delivery and by utilising all those within the housebuilding industry willing and able to build homes, will government be able to start to see new homes come forward.”

Open Property Data Association chair Maria Harris paid tribute to plans laid out by Rayner in February to make greater use of digital services to speed up homebuying.

Rayner announced pilots that would “open up key property information to ensure data can be shared between trusted professionals more easily,” in a bid to cut months from the housebuying process.

Harris says: “Losing that advocacy at such a pivotal moment is disappointing for everyone working to deliver much-needed change in the housing market.”

“We are on the cusp of the biggest digital transformation the homebuying process has ever seen, with open data standards set to speed up transactions, reduce fall-throughs and deliver better outcomes for consumers.”

“To make that happen, it is vital that the next housing secretary steps up to provide the leadership and stability required to carry this work forward and ensure the momentum behind digitisation is not lost.”

Reed was first elected as MP for his South London constituency in 2012. Before that, he was leader of Lambeth Council for six years.

He began his career in education and business publishing.