The King’s Speech has confirmed two major pieces of legislation in the form of Bills to “protect existing social housing stock and incentivise the building of the building of more social homes” (the Social Housing Renewal Bill), and a Remediation Bill bringing in new deadlines for remedying unsafe cladding.
The Social Housing Renewal Bill includes “comprehensive reforms to Right to Buy which will deliver a fairer, better value, and more sustainable scheme.” However the measures “build on the steps the Government has already taken,” by committing to already announced reforms – reducing Right to Buy discounts to pre-2012 levels, and allowing councils to keep 100% of receipts from Right to Buy sales. They will also have “increased flexibilities in how these receipts can be spent on replacement homes.”
Under the Bill, the minimum tenancy requirement for Right to Buy will increase to 10 years, and will also ensure that councils and other potential buyers are told before social homes are sold, in an effort “to maximise opportunities to retain stock.” New build social and affordable homes will be exempt for 35 years, and rural properties will not be included.
The King’s Speech also initiates the Remediation Bill, which if it becomes Law will require landlords of buildings over 18 metres to remediate unsafe cladding by the end of 2029. In addition a 2031 deadline will be set for owners of buildings of 11 metres-18 metres.
The Bill will also free up developers and contractors to pursue construction product manufacturers to “pay their share of fixing cladding and building safety shortcomings.” Bodies who fail to comply will face unlimited fines or imprisonment.
The moves on enabling contractors to pursue manufacturers end “years of inaction,” said the Government. “For the first time developers, contractors who have paid to make buildings safe will be able to properly pursue manufacturers, rather than being blocked by technical legal barriers,” thereby fixing “longstanding gaps” in the law.
The Remediation Bill will also confirmed there would be a ‘backstop’ to allow a third party, such as Homes England, to step in and carry out remediation work. It will also set out how external wall assessments must be carried out, “ensuring a consistent approach to remediation work.”