Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 4 November 2019.
Paul Farrelly
Labour, Newcastle-under-Lyme
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government is taking steps to limit the number of properties bought as investments rather than as homes or rental properties.
Esther McVey
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government is determined that the housing market works for everyone. That is why we are considering all levers at our disposal, including reforms to the planning system, to increase the supply of discounted homes for local people to buy, as well as increasing the supply of homes overall.
We have also taken steps to reduce the numbers of long-term empty homes in England by bolstering local authorities powers and incentives to tackle empty homes. Local authorities have the discretion to increase the maximum level of premium charged on properties that have been empty for more than two years from 50 per cent to 100 per cent extra council tax. There are now 83,813 fewer empty homes than in 2010.
Yes2 people think so
No1 person thinks not
Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Parliamentary questions are conventionally answered within seven days of being lodged, or on a particular day for so-called "Named Day" questions. (Source: House of Commons Information Office, Factsheet P1, "Parliamentary Questions")
A holding answer may be issued by a Minister if, for whatever reason, a substantive or final answer to the question cannot be provided in the time available.
