What does the King’s Speech 2024 mean for housing associations?

On 17 July, King Charles delivered the King’s Speech in the state opening of Parliament, setting out the new government’s legislative agenda and key priorities for change. 

The King’s Speech announced 40 new bills to be introduced over the next year, setting out some important and welcome first steps toward tackling the housing crisis across the country. In the speech, the government committed to building 1.5 million homes in England over the next Parliament, the revitalisation of the planning system and key reform on renters' rights. 

We’re looking forward to working with the government on the detail of the legislation and making sure the new legislation works for our members and their residents. We want to see reforms as part of a nationally coordinated and fully funded plan that puts the delivery of urgently needed affordable and social homes at its heart. 

We have identified below the key announcements affecting social housing providers.  

Planning and Infrastructure Bill 

The government will introduce a Planning and Infrastructure Bill, aiming to ‘get Britain Building’. This will be achieved through planning reforms that aim to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing. 

English Devolution Bill 

This legislation aims to grant new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities, with the aim of supporting local growth plans that give economic benefit to communities. Our team will be finding out more about the details of these changes, and what they mean for the delivery of housing in different areas. 

Great British Energy Bill 

We’re pleased the new government recognises the global climate challenge and is committed to a transition to clean energy, with lower energy bills for consumers over time. In time, this will save residents of social housing money on their energy bills and tackle the climate crisis.   

A Great British Energy Bill will bring about a publicly owned green energy company headquartered in Scotland, helping to accelerate investment in renewable energy such as offshore wind. 

Renters’ Rights Bill and draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill   

Following the fall of the Renters’ Reform Bill during the previous Parliament, the new government is committing to reform for private renters. The Renters’ Rights Bill will end no fault evictions and reform grounds for possession.  

At the moment, we don’t know how this proposed Bill will affect social housing providers. However, we will continue to work with the new government on renters’ reform, building on our previous policy work and strong relationships with Labour.   

The draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill will bring in new legislation to reform leaseholds and commonholds.   

Employment Rights Bill   

Labour’s government is committed to making work pay and will legislate to introduce a new deal for working people. They have set out plans to ban exploitative practices, enhance employment rights and help people back into employment. 

The Bill aims to deliver on the policies set out in Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay. This includes commitments to create a Fair Pay Agreement in the adult social care sector, and looking more widely at how this could also benefit other sectors.  

The plan also aims to “change the Low Pay Commission’s remit so that alongside median wages and economic conditions, the minimum wage will for the first time reflect the need for pay to take into account the cost of living.” 

Next steps

At the NHF, we’ll be working closely with the new government on the details of the new announcements, making sure they work for housing associations and their residents.  

We will make sure our members are heard as the new legislation makes its way through Parliament, ensuring planning reform is met with the right funding that unlocks the development potential of housing associations.