Kit Malthouse, MP for North West Hampshire, has this week been announced as our newly-elected Minister of State for Housing and Planning. He is the fourth housing minister in less than two years.  He replaces Dominic Raab, who will become the newest Brexit Secretary, after just six months in his role in housing.

Malthouse has a strong connection with Westminster, having been the former deputy mayor of London, Mayor of Policing, and city councillor and Deputy Leader of Westminster City Council. His background profession is as a chartered accountant.

In 2017, Malthouse said that ‘the solution to the housing market will be a long-term one. We are trying to build as many houses as we possibly can – we need 250,000 to 300,000 houses a year to bridge the demand and supply problem – but that will take some time to do.’

His new role will be central to meeting these targets, as outlined by having already met with the RLA (Residential Landlords Association. They discussed universal credit, the impact of the changes to mortgage interest tax relief on landlords, and the need for a cross-Governmental approach to the public rented sector.

The housing minister role will see Malthouse responsible for:

  • Supporting the Housing Secretary on housing supply policy and delivery
  • Managing housing financing streams and home ownership policy
  • Overseeing planning policy and casework
  • Handling Homes England sponsorship and performance
  • Maintaining building safety and regulations alongside land assembly
  • Developing the Help to Buy scheme
  • Ensuring housing maintains quality and design
  • Taking responsibility for the Grenfell recovery programme
  • Ensuring the issues detailed on the social housing green paper are carried out

We wish him the best of luck in his new role and look forward to keeping up with his new policies for housing, landlords, new homes and first-time buyers.