The King’s Speech, delivered by King Charles, outlines the Labour government’s priorities following their recent election win. Here are the highlights for Lancaster homeowners and landlords:
1. Renters’ Rights Bill
This bill aims to improve the private rental sector in England. Key proposals include:
- Abolishing Section 21 with clearer grounds for possession.
- Introducing ‘Awaab’s Law’ with specific expectations for landlords.
- Strengthening tenant rights, allowing challenges to rent increases, and preventing rental bidding wars.
- Creating a digital private rented sector database.
- Requiring landlords to consider tenants’ requests to keep pets, with optional insurance against pet damage.
- Implementing a Decent Homes Standard for rentals.
- Enhancing local councils’ powers to target rogue landlords.
- Establishing a new ombudsman service for disputes.
- Making it illegal to discriminate against tenants on benefits or with children.
2. Planning and Infrastructure Bill
This bill aims to boost housebuilding and infrastructure through:
- Increasing local planning authorities’ capacity.
- Modernising local planning committees.
- Streamlining the planning system for critical infrastructure.
3. Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill
Labour plans to extend the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Act 2024 to provide homeowners with greater rights, including:
- Addressing ground rent issues.
- Reinvigorating commonholds.
- Implementing the remaining Law Commission recommendations.
These proposals are not yet law but outline the government’s future plans. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us on 01524 843322 or you can email me at josh@jdg.co.uk.
Thanks for reading
Josh
