Every parliamentary written question tabled by Uma Kumaran this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–18 of 18 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2026 to Question 11892, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of further regulation of fixed estate charges and charges levied as covenants on residents’ leases.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including fixed estate charges and charges levied as covenants on residents’ leases in reforms affecting leaseholders’ gr
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, whether the Disabled Facilities Grant will be available to disabled residents required to pay for changes to living circumstances arising from recommendations of person-centred fire risk assessments.
Under the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 regulations, residents with disabilities or impairments in high-rise and certain medium rise buildings will be entitled to a person-centred fire risk assessment to identify equipment and adjustments to aid their fire safety and evacuation. Where costs arise, these may fall to the building owner, all residents or the individual resident. Where the cost of an identified mitigation would fall to the resident, the resident can decline to pay for it, in which case that mitigation may not be put in place. The Government has committed funding this year (2025/26) supporting social housing providers to deliver RPEEPs for their renters. Future years funding will be considered through the Spending Review process. Residents can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant from their local council which can help cover the capital costs of adaptations so they can live safely and independently at home. Local housing authorities have a statutory duty to provide adaptations for disabled people following a needs assessment, means test, eligibility criteria and subject to any permissions required from a landlord. They also have powers to provide financial assistance for adaptations for those that do not qualify for funding under the duty, and in some cases to waive the means test.
Communities and Local Government, if she will update the Decent Homes Standard for social housing to ensure that kitchens over 20 years old are renewed by social landlords.
The government will consult this year on a new Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors.
Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that families in all forms of temporary accommodation have access to adequate cooking facilities.
Our Homelessness Code of Guidance provides a summary of the homelessness legislation duties, powers and obligations on local housing authorities, including the quality standards of temporary accommodation.Legislation is clear that temporary accommodation must be suitable for the needs of the household and that suitability of accommodation should be kept under review. Households may ask for a review of their accommodation if they feel it is unsuitable.The Government will consult this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors. It is the government’s intention that the Decent Homes Standard should apply to as much of the temporary accommodation sector as possible. We will consult on the detail of the new standard in due course.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) regulations and (b) enforcement mechanisms to hold landlords accountable for non-compliance with housing standards in the stud
The government is committed to improving housing quality for students and will apply a Decent Homes Standard (DHS) to the private rented sector (PRS) for the first time to ensure homes are safe, secure and hazard free. This will include homes let to stude...
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to incentivise private developers to build more (a) social and (b) affordable homes.
The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December includes a number of changes to planning policy designed to support social and affordable housing delivery.The government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of dev...
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of new social homes built across London; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for affordable hou
I refer my Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle hidden homelessness.
The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high, and this can have a devastating impact on those affected. We will look at these issues carefully, including issues around hidden homelessness, to make sure we put in place services that ...
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take steps to improve the regulation of under-performing housing associations.
All registered providers of social housing are required to meet the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing.On 1 April 2024, the Regulator introduced a new, proactive consumer regulation regime. It has begun...
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the regulatory standards for housing associations.
All registered providers of social housing are required to meet the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing.On 1 April 2024, the Regulator introduced a new, proactive consumer regulation regime. It has begun...
Communities and Local Government, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of introducing a legal right for (a) tenants and (b) residents to trigger an audit of service charges where bills
The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building.By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness o...
Communities and Local Government, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent body to regulate service charges for residents of all tenures.
The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building.By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness o...
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support shared owners affected by (a) building remediation works and (b) increasing service charges.
The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building.By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness o...
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 22 February 2024 on Local Government Stewardship Update, HCWS280, what progress has been made on the Best Value Inspection of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets; and when he expects that inspection to conclude.
The Secretary of State has received the independent Best Value inspection team’s report. This is being considered carefully and any next steps will be set out in due course.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter from the then Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to the Chief Executive of Clarion Housing Group of November 2022, regarding maladministration notices and the treatment of its tenants, what steps her Department took to ensure that the Clarion Housing Group improved the standards of its (a) housing management, (b) repairs services and (c) value for money for (i) its residents and (ii) the Exchequer.
All registered providers of social housing must meet the outcomes of the standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing and ensure they provide their tenants with safe and decent homes.In February 2024, the Regulator of Social Housing concluded its review of the issues raised in the complaint submitted by Stratford and Bow constituents and from a subsequent meeting with a group of residents. Following consideration of the issues, the Regulator concluded that Clarion had not breached the consumer standards. The Regulator has subsequently carried out routine engagement with Clarion, and no similar issues relating to Stratford and Bow have been raised during this time. Following the introduction of the proactive regulatory regime on 1 April 2024, Clarion is subject to a regulatory inspection at least every four years. The Regulator can also respond to any further issues brought to its attention.Following the publication of the Housing Ombudsman’s findings relating to Clarion’s performance, the previous administration wrote to Clarion to seek assurances that they were taking appropriate action. The Housing Ombudsman Service engaged with Clarion following the findings to ensure that the issues identified were resolved.The Government intends to monitor closely Clarion’s performance.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter from the then Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to the Chief Executive of Clarion Housing Group of November 2022, regarding maladministration notices and the treatment of its tenants, what steps the then Secretary of State took in response to a petition from tenants of Clarion Housing Group requesting that he ask the Regulator for Social Housing investigate the organisation’s poor performance in relation to (a) repairs, (b) services, (c) housing management and (d) value for money.
All registered providers of social housing must meet the outcomes of the standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing and ensure they provide their tenants with safe and decent homes.In February 2024, the Regulator of Social Housing concluded its review of the issues raised in the complaint submitted by Stratford and Bow constituents and from a subsequent meeting with a group of residents. Following consideration of the issues, the Regulator concluded that Clarion had not breached the consumer standards. The Regulator has subsequently carried out routine engagement with Clarion, and no similar issues relating to Stratford and Bow have been raised during this time. Following the introduction of the proactive regulatory regime on 1 April 2024, Clarion is subject to a regulatory inspection at least every four years. The Regulator can also respond to any further issues brought to its attention.Following the publication of the Housing Ombudsman’s findings relating to Clarion’s performance, the previous administration wrote to Clarion to seek assurances that they were taking appropriate action. The Housing Ombudsman Service engaged with Clarion following the findings to ensure that the issues identified were resolved.The Government intends to monitor closely Clarion’s performance.
Communities and Local Government, if she will request an update from the Regulator for Social Housing on progress it has made on (a) its investigation into the collective complaint against Clarion House Group submitted by Stratford and Bow constituents in September 2023 and (b) steps taken following the meeting with a group of residents in December 2023.
All registered providers of social housing must meet the outcomes of the standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing and ensure they provide their tenants with safe and decent homes.In February 2024, the Regulator of Social Housing concluded its review of the issues raised in the complaint submitted by Stratford and Bow constituents and from a subsequent meeting with a group of residents. Following consideration of the issues, the Regulator concluded that Clarion had not breached the consumer standards. The Regulator has subsequently carried out routine engagement with Clarion, and no similar issues relating to Stratford and Bow have been raised during this time. Following the introduction of the proactive regulatory regime on 1 April 2024, Clarion is subject to a regulatory inspection at least every four years. The Regulator can also respond to any further issues brought to its attention.Following the publication of the Housing Ombudsman’s findings relating to Clarion’s performance, the previous administration wrote to Clarion to seek assurances that they were taking appropriate action. The Housing Ombudsman Service engaged with Clarion following the findings to ensure that the issues identified were resolved.The Government intends to monitor closely Clarion’s performance.