Most landlords can’t name the housing minister – can you?

A survey has found that most landlords don’t know who is responsible for housing policy affecting the private rented sector.

Landbay found that just 11% of landlords correctly identified Matthew Pennycook as the Minister of State for Housing and Planning.

Despite his appointment following Labour’s July 2024 election victory, most respondents could not name the Greenwich and Woolwich MP.

Earlier in the year, many mistakenly chose Angela Rayner, who previously combined duties as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary.

Others named figures such as Lisa Nandy, Julie James of the Welsh Senedd, and former Conservative minister Baroness Rachel Maclean.

No surprise minister is unknown

The lender’s sales and distribution director, Rob Stanton, said: “Given the fact that landlords have had to contend with a revolving door of housing ministers for more than decade, it should come as no surprise to see them struggling to keep track of who currently holds the post.

“One way for ministers to fix this issue is to actively engage with the landlord community, understand their challenges and recognise the vital role they play in propping up the housing market and providing housing for one in five households in England and Wales.

“Instead, they continue to test the incredible resilience of landlords with unhelpful rhetoric and one-sided legislation.”

Pennycook is minister number 17

The survey also reveals that some landlords admitted they had simply lost track of who was responsible, pointing to the rapid succession of politicians occupying the position.

Mr Pennycook is the seventeenth person to hold the brief since 2010.

Under the previous administration, the post changed hands 16 times, including six in a single year between 2022 and 2023.

At Cabinet level, Steve Reed has become the twelfth Housing Secretary since 2010 and the second under the current government.

Mr Pennycook gained recognition for his involvement in advancing the Renters’ Rights Bill.

He recently secured passage of the legislation through the Commons by dismissing most Lords’ amendments and is urging swift Royal Assent ‘as quickly as possible’.

Meanwhile, Mr Reed has promised to accelerate house building efforts, pledging to ‘build baby build’ to meet ambitious housebuilding goals.