HOUSE ABOUT THAT
Planning shakeup means NIMBYs WON’T be able to block new homes being built next door
New proposals to shake-up the rental sector would also see section 21 no-fault evictions banned
A MAJOR planning shake-up is set to ban councillors and neighbours from blocking desperately needed new homes.
In the King's speech today a huge package of measures to turbocharge housing supply, help homeowners and protect renters was announced.
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It included proposals to rip up planning red tape and unlock 1.5 million new homes by 2029.
The move is intended to make the dream of homeownership an attainable goal for working families once again rather than NIMBYs - Not In My Back Yard - locals stand in the way.
To unleash the building blitz, a proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill would streamline approval processes for major projects including wind farms, upgrades to the national grid and new housing developments.
Local people would be banned from blocking new houses where ministers determine the need for development is pressing.
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And town halls would be forced to consistently and frequently identify spaces for development and produce plans to rapidly increase housing supply there.
Where councils don't play ball with building, ministers would step in and impose new development blueprints on them.
On land identified as ripe for building there would have to be a presumption in favour.
And ugly patches of the green belt would be freed up for development.
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Among the other new laws unveiled today in Labour's first King's Speech in 15 years were:
- Immigration cops will be given counterterror-style powers to target small boat smuggling gangs
- Football fans will be protected from dodgy owners who risk wrecking their club’s finances and heritage
- Rail and bus services will be brought back into public ownership
- Yobs will be targeted in a crime blitz with more community support cops to walk the streets
- Hated "no fault evictions" will finally be banned in England for renters
- A new Children’s Wellbeing Bill has been proposed to “remove barriers to opportunity” for kids
- A major crackdown on smokers and vapers is set to be revived by the new Government
Sir Keir has also vowed to re-introduce of mandatory house building targets for town halls, which were scrapped by the last government.
This morning Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden admitted Labour's planning reforms "may be controversial in some places".
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He told the BBC: "We were very clear during the election campaign that we would come out of this on the side of getting things built more quickly.
"That may be controversial in some places, I've no doubt that it will be.
"It's a big decision for the country.
"If we do nothing on this, we will continue with a situation where there's a whole generation of young people for whom the aspiration of owning their own home, or sometimes even renting one at a reasonable price, will continue to be unrealisable."
Hated "no fault evictions" and the sale of rip-off leasehold flats would also finally be banned in England, the government confirmed today.
In a win for England's 11 million private tenants, landlords would no longer be allowed to kick them out without a reason.
Section 21 no fault evictions - what are your rights?
Source; Citizens Advice
- A section 21 notice has to give you at least 2 months.
- Some tenants have a right to a longer notice. For example, 3 months' notice if your rent is due every 3 months.
- Section 21 notices are sometimes called 'no fault' notices because your landlord does not need a reason for eviction.
- But your landlord must follow rules to use a section 21. For example, they have to use the right form, protect your deposit and give you a gas safety certificate.
- All councils must help stop people becoming homeless.
- You can ask the council for help as soon as you get a section 21 notice.
- Your landlord must get a possession order if you do not leave when the notice ends.
- They must not change the locks or evict you themselves.
- Your landlord can apply to court as soon as the notice period ends.
- In most cases, your landlord has to apply to court within 6 months of giving you notice.
- If you have a right to a longer notice period, your landlord has 4 months from the end date on the notice.
- The notice stops being valid if your landlord does not apply to court within this time.
- This means they would have to give you a new notice if they still want you to leave.
And tenants would be given more empowerment to challenge ridiculous rent increases used to force them out by the backdoor.
Landlords will be prohibited from unreasonably refusing pet requests and forced to abide by a new Decent Homes Standard.
In the social and private rental sector Awaab's Law would set legal expectations about the timeframes within which landlords have to repair hazards such a mould and damp.
And it would become illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants on benefits or with kids when picking who lets their property.
Today's King's Speech also provided much-needed relief for desperate leaseholders, currently trapped by cowboy freeholders charging extortionate ground rents.
A new Bill would bolster rights for homeowners to extend leases and buy their freehold.
And ground rents would be regulated to put an end to disgraceful and sudden annual charge hikes.
However the exact forms of regulation, whether a price cap or reduction to peppercorn rates, hasn't been decided yet.
Ministers also pledged to slowly end the feudal housing system by restricting the sale of new leasehold flats.
Responding to Labour's rental reform proposals, Tom Darling, Campaign Manager at the Renters' Reform Coalition, said: “This Bill will finally end section 21 evictions, but if it is to ‘decisively’ rebalance the private rented sector, it is crucial that new landlord possession grounds are not open to abuse.
"The government is saying the right things on this front, but we will reserve judgment until we see the detail of the legislation.”
How to fight a no-fault eviction
You can fight a no-fault eviction through the courts, and usually get free legal advice.
Seek help as soon as you’re served a notice, to give you time to build a case.
The Government’s Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service provides early legal support on housing issues.
Look for a local provider at .
The court can only void an eviction notice if it’s “invalid”, so your best bet is to prove it doesn’t meet the right criteria, advises housing charity Shelter.
For example, landlords must use Form 6A to issue a notice.
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Nothing else is valid.
You must also be given two months’ notice to move out and it must be at least four months since the start of your original tenancy.
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