Housing Minister merry-go-round: Meet the 7th housing minister in just two years!

9:45 AM, 14th November 2023, 2 years ago 10

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Landlord News Landlord News Renters Reform Bill Shelter

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle has seen Rachel Maclean sacked after just nine months in the job and replaced with Lee Rowley.

Mr Rowley has become the 7^th housing minister since 2020 and the 16th over the last 13 years.

Mr Rowley will have a lot on his plate with the Renters’ Reform Bill now in the Committee stage which is taking place today.

Disappointed to step down as housing minister

Rachel Maclean said on X, formerly Twitter: “I’ve been asked to step down from my role as Housing Minister.

“Disappointed and was looking forward to introducing the Renters Reform Bill to the Committee stage and later the Leasehold and Freehold Bill. It has been a privilege to hold the position and I wish my successor well.”

Mr Rowley has been an MP for North East Derbyshire since 2017 and previously served as housing minister for around seven weeks in 2022 under former prime minister Liz Truss.

His first job after leaving University was as an estate agent and prior to entering Parliament, he worked in a number of finance and consultancy roles at Barclays, Santander and Co-op Insurance.

Mr Rowley said on X, formerly Twitter he’s delighted to be appointed.

He said: “Home ownership is the cornerstone of Conservatism – and for building the property-owning democracy that we all want to see.

“Delighted to be supporting Michael Gove on our ambitious long-term plan for housing – and to build more homes in the right places for everyone.”

Industry reaction

Housing charity Shelter has urged the new housing minister to “hit the ground running”.

Polly Neate, chief executive officer at Shelter, said: “The revolving door of housing ministers proves the government’s failure to grasp the scale and urgency of the housing emergency. Rents are rocketing, evictions are soaring, and homelessness is at a record high. The 16th housing minister since 2010 must hit the ground running.”

The Renters Reform Coalition, campaign manager Tom Darling, said: “It is frankly shambolic that we will now be on to our 16th housing minister since 2010, and incredibly nine just since the government promised to end no-fault evictions.

“Now, just before the important committee stage [of the Renters Reform Bill] which involves poring over the detail of the Bill, she is sacked – it makes a mockery of government and shows a shocking lack of respect for England’s 11m private renters.”

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Tags: cabinet reshuffle, housing changes, housing crisis, Housing Minister, lee rowley, Renters Reform Bill

Comments

Martin Hicks

Member Since June 2023 - Comments: 65

9:57 AM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

Not so much a “Merry -go-round” – more like a Russian meat grinder!

3 Report Comment Reply
Paul Essex Read Full Bio

Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 761

10:04 AM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

Funnily they never seem to have problems evicting the previous one!

12 Report Comment Reply
Ian Narbeth Read Full Bio

Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 1996 - Articles: 21

10:13 AM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

It’s easier, and certainly much quicker, to get rid of Housing Ministers than defaulting tenants!

Rachel Maclean’s epitaph: “She was disappointed not to introduce the Renters Reform Bill to the Committee stage.” 🙂

10 Report Comment Reply
GlanACC Read Full Bio

Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 1506

10:33 AM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

Seems to have diverted Shelters anger to the government for a while, won’t last long though, be back to the landlords next week.

7 Report Comment Reply
Blodwyn Read Full Bio

Member Since August 2016 - Comments: 508

11:37 AM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

The last holder of this office is no great loss. Perhaps ‘our lot’ can get to the new incumbent quicker and more effectively and before Shelter poison his eardrums?

2 Report Comment Reply
Monty Bodkin

Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1562

12:20 PM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Blodwyn at 14/11/2023 – 11:37
Fully agree, delusional and in denial;

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/landlords-leaving-the-market-wrong-says-conservative-housing-minister/

“What I believe is that there are lots of landlords in the PRS, if one leaves, I’m almost certain another one will come in. So this idea that our regulation will drive them out in the sector. I don’t accept that. “

May as well have been a spokesman for the Labour party;

https://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/parties/labour/angela-rayner/angela-rayner-emphasises-no-fault-eviction-plan/

A.R -“Well, landlords, you know, we’ve got a countless amount of landlords at the moment”

A.C -“They’re leaving.”

A.R -“Well there’s plenty of them around.”

A.C -“They’re still leaving and it’s why rents are going up Angela.”

4 Report Comment Reply
Monty Bodkin

Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1562

12:25 PM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 14/11/2023 – 12:20
https://www.cbre.co.uk/insights/articles/why-are-landlords-leaving-the-rental-market

This means that, since 2016, a total of 400,000 rental homes have been lost. If sales continue on a similar trajectory, it will equate to a loss of almost 10% of the UK’s private rented households by the end of this year.

2 Report Comment Reply
Whiteskifreak Surrey

Member Since February 2016 - Comments: 977 - Articles: 1

12:55 PM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

Since 2019 we seem to have been leaving in a permanent circus of ever changing government clowns.
A bit like shuffling chairs on the sinking Titanic.

3 Report Comment Reply
dismayed landlord

Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 292

1:27 PM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 14/11/2023 – 12:55
The titanic stood a vague chance if some survivors.

2 Report Comment Reply
Easy rider

Member Since September 2023 - Comments: 173

4:11 PM, 14th November 2023, About 2 years ago

Not long until the next General Election. Then we’ll wish we had any one of the previous 7 incumbents to this office.

1 Report Comment Reply

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