Written questions by Gosling.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure that councils are accountable to their constituents during complaints processes.

Councils should follow the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code, which sets out how complaints should be considered fairly and effectively. Residents dissatisfied with their complaint outcome can refer their complaint to the Ombudsman who will independently look at whether public services are being delivered properly.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the practice of gazumping; and whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of voluntary reservation agreements in residential sales.

The government recognise that the home buying and selling process in England and Wales is inefficient and costly for consumers and professionals. We continue to review evidence from other jurisdictions, including on reservation agreements, as we consider next steps.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase the supply of social housing in Nuneaton constituency.

I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to Question 10272 on 28 October 2024.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing local authorities to (a) buy unoccupied housing in longstanding disrepair at a reduced rate and (b) raise council tax on long-term unoccupied housing to ensure properties are kept in the market in a suitable condition.

Local authorities have strong powers and incentives to tackle empty homes. They have the discretionary powers to charge additional council tax on properties which have been left unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one or more years. The maximum premium that a council can apply increases, depending on the length of time that the property has been empty for, with a premium of up to 300% on homes left empty for over ten years.Local authorities can also use powers to take over the management of long-term empty homes to bring them back into use in the private rented sector. Local authorities can apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) when a property has been empty for more than two years, subject to the production of evidence that the property has been causing a nuisance to the community and evidence of community support for their proposal. More information can be found here.