Following the departure of Simon Clarke, Michael Gove was re-instated as Housing Secretary yesterday, as part of PM Rishi Sunak’s new Cabinet.
Having previously been sacked from the role by Boris Johnson, Gove’s reappointment has provoked much discourse amongst those in the mortgage and property industry.
Kate Davies, executive director of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA), said: “The Ministerial game of pass the parcel continues – and as the music stopped yesterday, Mr. Gove was left holding a familiar bundle.
“When he last held the DCLUHC brief, Mr. Gove published two important consultations – one in February this year on “Levelling up” and a second in June on “Providing a Fairer Private Rented Sector”.
“As one of the most experienced Ministers in the new Cabinet, Mr. Gove has a reputation for getting things done – and had already made progress on number of key issues (not least the cladding scandal) – before his abrupt departure from the Johnson administration.
She added: “Instead of facing the prospect of yet another new face at DLUHC, we therefore welcome Mr. Gove’s return and hope that this signals the importance which both he and the new Prime Minister attach to this vital role.
“Mr. Gove’s own analysis of the issues has been detailed and clear – we urgently need more and better housing stock.
“The process is lengthy and complex, from the granting of permission to develop and to acquisition and build-out, and the wider-reaching requirements for appropriate infrastructure to support new developments.
“As IMLA has consistently said – this is a long-term and continuing project which can only be delivered on the back of a long-term strategy.
“In returning to a role to which he has previously clearly given much consideration, Mr. Gove may be best placed to provide this.
“Each of the new Ministers has been presented with a parcel of knotty problems: Mr. Gove’s challenges will be to increase public sector housing while also maintaining support for the vital private rental sector and increasing first time ownership at a time when markets are volatile, supply is worryingly low, and measures such as Help to Buy are coming to an end.
Davies concluded: “We look forward to working with the Ministerial team and officials at DLUHC – and wish them all the best of luck in untangling their particular Gordian Knot.”
