Written questions by Pinkerton.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of non-qualifying leaseholder status on the ability of impacted leaseholders to sell their properties in buildings that have undergone remediation under the Building Safety Act 2022.

If the non-qualifying lease status automatically disappeared at the point of sale, it would mean that the original holders of non-qualifying leases could effectively pass the additional costs of remediation onto freeholders, which would not align with the intentions of the legislation. That is to ensure defective buildings are fixed and not left in a perpetually dangerous state by carefully balancing the rights of leaseholders with those of those freeholders not connected with the developer who were equally innocent in the creation of the emerging defects. As I said in a recent Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee meeting on this topic, that we are looking very closely at what can be done to sunset the “in perpetuity” status of leases which do not qualify for the leaseholder protections. Ten major banks and building societies (mortgage lenders) have signed a public statement on cladding confirming lenders will consider mortgage applications if the building has funding for remediation works from government or the developer, regardless of the qualifying status of the leaseholder. Buildings which have undergone remediation should be subject to standard lending criteria.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help support young people to get onto the housing ladder in Surrey Heath constituency.

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of home ownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own. The most sustainable long-term method to improve housing affordability and help people into home ownership is to increase the supply of housing. That is why the government committed to deliver 1.5 million homes over the Parliament in the Plan for Change. In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, we are committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme meaning first-time buyers in Surrey Heath and across the country will be able to take their crucial first step on to the property ladder with only a small deposit.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase the availability of (a) affordable and (b) energy-efficient housing in Surrey Heath constituency.

At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 November 2025 (HCWS549). The investment made at Spring statement follows the £800 million in new in-year funding which has been made available for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme and that will support the delivery of up to 7,800 new homes, with more than half of them being Social Rent homes. We will set out set details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent. The government has also announced the £450m third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund, followed by an uplift of £50m, enabling councils to grow their housing stock. We also confirmed a range of new flexibilities for councils and housing associations, both within the Affordable Homes Programme and in relation to how councils can use their Right to Buy receipts. Having reduced Right to Buy discounts to their pre-2012 regional levels, we have allowed councils to retain 100% of the receipts generated by Right to Buy sales. The government recognise that Registered Providers need support to build their capacity and make a greater contribution to affordable housing supply. Between 30 October 2024 and 23 December 2024, the government consulted on a new 5-year social housing rent settlement, to give Registered Providers the certainty they need to invest in new social and affordable housing. The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a number of changes that make the planning system more supportive of affordable housing, in particular Social Rent homes. These include new Golden Rules for development on the Green Belt. Prior to development plan policies for affordable housing being updated in accordance with the revised NPPF, the affordable housing contribution required to satisfy the ‘Golden Rules’ is 15 percentage points above the highest existing affordable housing requirement that would otherwise apply to the development, subject to a cap of 50%. We estimate that under this model, the median Green Belt local planning authority affordable housing requirement will be 50%. The Government already intend to amend building regulations later this year as part of the introduction of future standards that will set more ambitious energy efficiency and carbon emissions requirements for new homes. The new standards will ensure that all new homes are future-proof, with low-carbon heating and very high-quality building fabric. Not only will they help us to deliver our commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, but they will reduce bills, tackle fuel poverty, grow skills, foster diverse job markets and make Britain energy secure.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of consulting a broad range of stakeholders when revising the PAS 9980 standard.

MHCLG and Home Office have jointly sponsored the British Standards Institution (BSI), who developed and are responsible for the PAS 9980 guidance, to review it to ensure it captures best practice, meets the needs of the market and identify whether any revisions are required. BSI has commenced work on the review and anticipate the review, including a 6-weeks public consultation, will be complete with updated guidance published in early 2026.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing a draft of the revised PAS 9980 code of practice for fire risk appraisals of external walls and cladding.

MHCLG and Home Office have jointly sponsored the British Standards Institution (BSI), who developed and are responsible for the PAS 9980 guidance, to review it to ensure it captures best practice, meets the needs of the market and identify whether any revisions are required. BSI has commenced work on the review and anticipate the review, including a 6-weeks public consultation, will be complete with updated guidance published in early 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people affected by the proposed changes in the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, are consulted on the proposed implementation of unitary authorities.

We expect local leaders to engage their Members of Parliament, and to ensure there is wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents, workforce and their representatives, and businesses in working up their proposals. The engagement that is undertaken should both inform the development of robust proposals and should also build a shared understanding of the improvements you expect to deliver through reorganisation. The views of other public sector providers will be crucial to understanding the best way to structure local government in an area. This will include the relevant Mayor, Integrated Care Board, Police (Fire) and Crime Commissioner, Fire and Rescue Authority, local Higher Education and Further Education providers, National Park Authorities, and the voluntary and third sector. Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the Government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the debt-sharing arrangements for the proposed unitary authorities in Surrey.

On 5 February I wrote to leaders of all councils in Surrey to formally invite proposals for reorganisation. It is for the councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of the whole area. I have asked councils in Surrey to submit any proposal to Government by 9 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of the construction of housing developments on infrastructure in Surrey Heath constituency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 26106 on 5 February 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of EWS1 forms issued by Tri Fire Ltd since the introduction of the assessment process.

10 mortgage lenders have signed a statement confirming they will lend on buildings before they have been remediated. We expect these lenders to honour this statement and not require an EWS1. The statement can be found here.Where a lender is not accepting an EWS1 for a building, leaseholders should provide alternative evidence, for example a letter from the department or the developer, to a mortgage lender that: their building is in the Cladding Safety Scheme, Building Safety Fund or covered by a developer that has signed the Developer Remediation Contract. They can also complete a Leaseholder Deed of Certificate to evidence they qualify for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act. More information for leaseholders on completing a Leaseholder of Certificate can be found hereEWS1s (External Wall System Fire Review) are not a legal or regulatory requirement and as such we do not collect information on the number of EWS1 forms issued by individual firms. EWS1s are not used in the consideration of applications for government funded cladding remediation schemes.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28103 on Flats: Fire Prevention, what examples of alternative evidence should mortgage lenders consider when an EWS1 form has been incorrectly issued.

10 mortgage lenders have signed a statement confirming they will lend on buildings before they have been remediated. We expect these lenders to honour this statement and not require an EWS1. The statement can be found here.Where a lender is not accepting an EWS1 for a building, leaseholders should provide alternative evidence, for example a letter from the department or the developer, to a mortgage lender that: their building is in the Cladding Safety Scheme, Building Safety Fund or covered by a developer that has signed the Developer Remediation Contract. They can also complete a Leaseholder Deed of Certificate to evidence they qualify for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act. More information for leaseholders on completing a Leaseholder of Certificate can be found hereEWS1s (External Wall System Fire Review) are not a legal or regulatory requirement and as such we do not collect information on the number of EWS1 forms issued by individual firms. EWS1s are not used in the consideration of applications for government funded cladding remediation schemes.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the total cost of recommissioning incorrect External Wall Review (EWS1) forms for residential buildings included in the Building Remediation Fund.

10 mortgage lenders have signed a statement confirming they will lend on buildings before they have been remediated. We expect these lenders to honour this statement and not require an EWS1. The statement can be found here.Where a lender is not accepting an EWS1 for a building, leaseholders should provide alternative evidence, for example a letter from the department or the developer, to a mortgage lender that: their building is in the Cladding Safety Scheme, Building Safety Fund or covered by a developer that has signed the Developer Remediation Contract. They can also complete a Leaseholder Deed of Certificate to evidence they qualify for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act. More information for leaseholders on completing a Leaseholder of Certificate can be found hereEWS1s (External Wall System Fire Review) are not a legal or regulatory requirement and as such we do not collect information on the number of EWS1 forms issued by individual firms. EWS1s are not used in the consideration of applications for government funded cladding remediation schemes.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that residents are protected from incorrectly completed EWS1 forms when trying to (a) sell, (b) remortgage and (c) purchase properties in residential buildings.

EWS1s are not a legal or regulatory requirement, and the Department does not intend to regulate their issuance. The use of EWS1s is a commercial decision by lenders and subject to their individual lending criteria.The absence of a correctly completed EWS1 should not be a blocker to mortgage lending, where a leaseholder can provide alternative evidence of the safety of their building or that the building is in a remediation scheme or that the leaseholder qualifies for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act.We are working closely with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the lending industry to ensure the market continues to function for leaseholders in properties with building safety issues, and those looking to purchase properties with building safety issues.Leaseholders should contact the building owner or person responsible for fire safety if they have concerns about the fire safety of their building.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Institution of Fire Engineers as a regulatory body for fire engineers.

Currently, the fire engineering profession is undefined and not regulated in law. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry report makes a number of recommendations in respect of fire engineering sector including the recommendation that the profession be recognised and protected by law and that an independent body be established to regulate the profession, define the standards required for membership, maintain a register of members and regulate their conduct.Following the publication of the Grenfell Tower Fire Inquiry Report, the Department is reviewing the findings and recommendations in relation to the fire engineering sector. No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Institution of Fire Engineers as a regulatory body for fire engineers.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a central governance board to regulate the issuance of EWS1 forms for residential buildings.

EWS1s are not a legal or regulatory requirement, and the Department does not intend to regulate their issuance. The use of EWS1s is a commercial decision by lenders and subject to their individual lending criteria.The absence of a correctly completed EWS1 should not be a blocker to mortgage lending, where a leaseholder can provide alternative evidence of the safety of their building or that the building is in a remediation scheme or that the leaseholder qualifies for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act.We are working closely with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the lending industry to ensure the market continues to function for leaseholders in properties with building safety issues, and those looking to purchase properties with building safety issues.Leaseholders should contact the building owner or person responsible for fire safety if they have concerns about the fire safety of their building.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help foster collaboration between (a) housing associations and (b) local authorities to align their energy efficiency targets in the construction of new residential properties.

The government intends to introduce future standards later this year through Building Regulations. These will raise the minimum energy efficiency of all new homes, including social housing. Homes built to the new standards will have very good building fabric and be fitted with low carbon heating technology.It is for local authorities and housing associations to determine whether energy efficiency targets beyond Building Regulations are appropriate for their areas and then to work together to achieve them.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the English Devolution White Paper on the delivery of public services in Surrey.

The White Paper we published before Christmas sets an ambitious new framework for English devolution, moving power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best. To deliver change, we need strong local leadership and empowered institutions. This is what devolution is all about.A unitary council for Surrey residents will bring lower and upper tier services together, creating opportunities for service transformation which will support improvements in delivery. Ultimately, our goal is mayoral devolution that will prioritise the delivery of high quality, sustainable public services to citizens and communities, above all other issues.Mayors will be equipped with a range of new powers across planning, infrastructure, transport, skills, business and energy, alongside strong and effective relationships with councils and other partners, to deliver the missions we have set out to transform the country.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that not-for-profit freeholders are held accountable for their management practices.

I have interpreted not-for-profit freeholders as referring to registered social landlords (RSLs).All RSLs are required to meet the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing. The Regulator holds private registered providers accountable for meeting the economic standards and both local authorities and private registered providers accountable on consumer standards. Appropriate action is taken when the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.Since April 2024, the Regulator has begun proactively seeking assurance that registered providers are meeting the standards through routine regulatory inspections. Where social tenants are unhappy with the quality of homes or services provided by their landlord they can complain to the Housing Ombudsman Service.