The key themes following the release of the Labour manifesto are as follows:
First Time Buyers
• There will be an introduction of a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme, to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs.
Leasehold Reform
• Enact the package of Law Commission proposals on leasehold enfranchisement, making commonhold the default tenure.
• Tackle unregulated ground rent charges.
Planning, Housing Targets and Social Housing
• 1.5 million new homes to be built, restore mandatory housing targets.
• Improve building safety, the pace of remediation.
• Money into local Authorities planning departments.
• Increasing stamp duty paid by non-uk residents.
• Releasing only Greybelt land first for development, and the introduction of ‘golden rules’ to ensure development benefits communities.
• Plans to build a new generation of towns, as seen in the 1950’s.
• Deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.
• Review of the right to buy scheme, to keep social housing as high as possible.
• Increasing protection of government owned social housing.
Landlords and Tenants
• The immediate abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.
• New rights to challenge rent increases.
• Housing standards to “take steps to decisively raise standards, including extending ‘Awaab’s Law’ to the private sector”.
• Minimum energy efficiency standards to “ensure homes in the private rented sector meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2030, saving renters hundreds of pounds per year. Nobody will be forced to rip out their boiler as a result of our plans”.
• Anti-discrimination rules to “prevent private renters being exploited and discriminated against”.
In the event of a Labour victory, there promises to be an emphasis on delivering more housing following reform of the planning system, changes to the leasehold system in favour of commonhold and the abolition of no-fault tenant evictions together with higher repair standards in the private rented sector.
A majority of the manifesto commitments are likely to require further legislation before they become law, which will in turn require multiple readings before enacted as law.
Should you require any further information regarding property law or any potential changes, please do not hesitate to contact us on advice@lawcomm.co.uk.
The contents of this article do not constitute legal advice.
