Third reshuffle in housing removes continuity

Continuity among government ministers with a housing market brief has disappeared, with the news that the last junior housing minister has been moved to a different department.

It means there is now a change of all three major jobs – Communities and Local Government Secretary of State, housing minister, and junior housing minister.

Iain Wright has gone to Children, Schools and Families and been replaced by Ian Austin as junior housing minister. The new housing minister is John Healey, while the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is John Denham.

Austin is a relative newcomer to Parliament, having represented Dudley North only since 2005. Before that, he was an adviser to Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor.

David Salusbury, chairman of the National Landlords Association, said that Austin’s appointment was crucial to the private rental sector, for which he will become responsible.

Austin’s immediate challenges are the Government’s proposals to license all letting agents and private landlords. His remit is also likely to include HIPs.

Salusbury said:  “For two years, we enjoyed a highly productive relationship with Iain Wright. He has shown himself to be a balanced housing reformer; always willing to listen to the many voices which compete for his attention.

“However, the NLA very much looks forward to working with the new minister. The recently published Government recommendations for the sector are ambitious.”