Rental Reform future uncertain as new housing ministe...

Lee Rowley is the new housing minister, specifically responsible for taking charge of the government’s rental reform agenda.

The government has confirmed that Lee Rowley is the new junior housing minister replacing Eddie Hughes - the architect of the Renters Reform Bill and the man behind the controversial Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper.

Rowley is MP for North East Derbyshire and reports to the new Housing Secretary Simon Clarke who replaced Greg Clarke.

Before resigning from Boris Johnson’s government in the summer Rowley was junior minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and a government whip.

So far he has said nothing on what direction he will take the rental reform agenda; Liz Truss said at one point during her Conservative leadership election campaign that she felt landlords had been having a challenging time in recent years.

Rowley, a Brexiteer, has given little away on his interest in housing - he has previously spoken out against the housing planning system, saying it doesn’t work for developers, planners or applicants, and has spoken in favour of improved transport links in his area.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns for Propertymark, says: “A change of minister will add to the uncertainty the proposals within the renters’ reform white paper have created among the landlords our member agents represent, specifically the lack of protections against anti-social behaviour with the removal of Section 21 notices and the move away from fixed-term tenancies.

“We’re ready to work closely with whoever replaces Eddie Hughes to ensure that if the private rented sector is to be reformed, it is fair, balanced and workable, and goes ahead without any further delays.”