Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure the provision of adequate funding for demand-led local government services in the next spending review.

We recognise the challenges that local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. Funding allocations from future settlements are subject to the outcome of future Spending Reviews.The final Settlement for 2025-26 therefore makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25.We are also taking immediate action to begin addressing the significant challenges facing local government by ensuring that funding goes to the places that need it most in 2025-26.The Ministry works closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing local government on an ongoing basis.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made and assessment of the inclusion of measures of deprivation as part of funding reform for local government.

Building on the measures in the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, the Government is committed to introducing an improved and updated approach to funding local authorities from 2026-27.We are inviting views on our principles and objectives for funding reform through a consultation (18 December – 12 February), as well as engaging with the local government sector more broadly. As part of this, we are inviting views on the drivers of councils’ spending need, including measures of deprivation.This consultation and engagement will inform the development of our detailed proposals, which we will consult on in late Spring following the multi-year Spending Review and ahead of the provisional multi-year Settlement for 2026-27.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to give local authorities in London a formal decision-making role in any future Integrated Settlement applied to the Greater London Authority.

At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government committed to exploring how the Integrated Settlement policy could be applied for the Greater London Authority from the 2026-27 financial year onwards, taking into account the capital’s unique devolution arrangements. This work is currently taking place and the Government plans to announce further details following the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Spending Review 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to establish a formal shared decision-making arrangement between the Mayor of London and local authorities.

The Government remains committed to engaging local authorities, including London Borough Councils, and the wider local government sector on the detail of our reforms set out in the English Devolution White Paper. As part of this process, it will be important to consider London’s unique devolution settlement, including drawing on existing ways of working between the Greater London Authority and London Boroughs.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of (a) freezing rents and (b) capping service charges for housing association social tenants.

Individual circumstances will vary, not least depending on whether tenants receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to help pay their rent, and whether they are affected by the total benefit cap or the removal of the spare room subsidy, but the government recognises that increases in rents can have an impact on the disposable income of social housing tenants.We recently consulted on a long-term rent settlement that would allow social housing rents to increase by up to CPI + 1% each year for five years from 2026. As part of that consultation, we invited views on whether this proposal or alternative options would strike the right balance between the need for increased investment in new and existing homes and the interests of those whose disposable income would be affected by rent increases, as well as the consequences for welfare spending.The consultation closed on 23 December 2024 and my officials and I are giving careful consideration to the responses received.The government has no plans to freeze rents or cap service charges for tenants and leaseholders.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support housing association social tenants in rent arrears.

The government is clear that social landlords should seek to sustain tenancies and should only evict as a last resort.Landlords will, when managing their social housing schemes, provide advice and assistance to those struggling financially, including signposting to support services.The Pre-Action Protocol for Possession Claims by Social Landlords sets out the actions social landlords should take to support the tenant before they consider taking legal action for rent arrears. These actions include making early contact with tenants to discuss the cause of the arrears, checking eligibility for housing benefit, assisting with any claim, and agreeing affordable repayment terms for the arrears. The protocol can be found on the justice website here.Consumer standards, which are set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing, define the outcomes which all registered providers of social housing must deliver. These require that registered providers must support tenants to maintain their tenancy or licence and prevent unnecessary evictions.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of (a) changes in the number of housing association social tenants in rent arrears and (b) increased rents.

Individual circumstances will vary, not least depending on whether tenants receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to help pay their rent, and whether they are affected by the total benefit cap or the removal of the spare room subsidy, but the government recognises that increases in rents can have an impact on the disposable income of social housing tenants.We recently consulted on a long-term rent settlement that would allow social housing rents to increase by up to CPI + 1% each year for five years from 2026. As part of that consultation, we invited views on whether this proposal or alternative options would strike the right balance between the need for increased investment in new and existing homes and the interests of those whose disposable income would be affected by rent increases, as well as the consequences for welfare spending.The consultation closed on 23 December 2024 and my officials and I are giving careful consideration to the responses received.The government has no plans to freeze rents or cap service charges for tenants and leaseholders.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of a new regulator for service charges.

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s service charge and litigation costs provisions this year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.We will also consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works and on strengthening regulation of managing agents to drive up the standard of their service, as a minimum by introducing mandatory professional qualifications.Details of the number of cases received and disposed of by the First-tier Tribunal can be found on gov.uk here and decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal Residential Property Chamber can be found on gov.uk here. The Department does not have a breakdown on how many cases relate to service charge disputes.The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to leaseholders, including on service charge issues. This enables leaseholders to take an informed decision on what appropriate action they need to take next.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to prevent overcharging of service charges by (a) councils, (b) housing associations, (c) private landlords and (d) intermediary managing agents.

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s service charge and litigation costs provisions this year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.We will also consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works and on strengthening regulation of managing agents to drive up the standard of their service, as a minimum by introducing mandatory professional qualifications.Details of the number of cases received and disposed of by the First-tier Tribunal can be found on gov.uk here and decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal Residential Property Chamber can be found on gov.uk here. The Department does not have a breakdown on how many cases relate to service charge disputes.The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to leaseholders, including on service charge issues. This enables leaseholders to take an informed decision on what appropriate action they need to take next.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of challenges brought to the English First-tier Property Tribunal against (a) councils, (b) housing associations, (c) private landlords and (d) intermediary managing agents for the (i) level and (ii) payability of service charges in 2024.

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s service charge and litigation costs provisions this year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.We will also consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works and on strengthening regulation of managing agents to drive up the standard of their service, as a minimum by introducing mandatory professional qualifications.Details of the number of cases received and disposed of by the First-tier Tribunal can be found on gov.uk here and decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal Residential Property Chamber can be found on gov.uk here. The Department does not have a breakdown on how many cases relate to service charge disputes.The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to leaseholders, including on service charge issues. This enables leaseholders to take an informed decision on what appropriate action they need to take next.

Communities and Local Government, whether she is taking steps to ensure housing associations who raise rents for social housing tenants above inflation are using the increased revenue to invest in building new homes.

Housing associations use income from social housing rents to deliver services to their tenants, manage and maintain their homes to the required standards, and invest in new homes.Government does not place requirements on housing associations to use rental income to invest in new homes. However, we recognise the need to support them so they can build their capacity and make a greater contribution to affordable housing supply.One way we are doing this is by providing capital grant through the Affordable Homes Programme. In October 2024, we announced an immediate one-year cash injection of £500m to the 2021-2026 Affordable Homes Programme over and above its £11.5bn budget, to support delivery of up to 5,000 new social and affordable homes.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a strategy on ending all forms of homelessness.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This has a devastating impact on those affected and harms our communities.We must address this and deliver long-term solutions. The Government is considering these issues carefully and is committed to putting Britain ...

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the potential cost to local authorities for providing temporary accommodation for homeless people in the 2024-25 financial year.

The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high and that this can have a devastating impact on those involved, as well as placing financial strain on councils. Local authorities have reported the costs of providing temporary accommodat...

Communities and Local Government, what her Department's timetable is for (a) establishing and (b) the first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping; and how frequently she expect

The Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for cross-governmental coordination of policy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and will update in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an estimate of the potential costs to local authorities of providing temporary accommodation in line with their their homelessness relief duties in the 2024-

The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high and that this can have a devastating impact on those involved, as well as placing financial strain on councils. Local authorities have reported the costs of providing temporary accommodat...

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for holding the inaugural meeting of the inter-ministerial group on homelessness; and how frequently that group will meet.

The Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for cross-governmental coordination of policy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and will update in due course.