Queen’s speech: property-related matters (summary)

On 10 May 2022, HRH Prince Charles delivered the Queen’s Speech setting out the government’s planned legislative programme for the 2022/23 Parliamentary session. 

Bills of interest to the property industry

Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

The Queens’s Speech 2022 announced the government’s intention to level up the UK by regenerating towns and cities and improving the planning system so that communities have a louder voice.

One of the main elements of the Bill is a new power for local authorities to bring empty premises back into use by instigating rental auctions of vacant commercial properties in town centres and on high streets.

(Pages 25-26, Queen’s Speech 2022: background briefing notes.)

 Transport Bill

 Railways are to be simplified to ensure a better and more reliable service. A new body, Great British Railways, is to be created that will have the powers required to act as the single national leader for railways.

Further provisions will allow the installation of more electric vehicle charge points. 

(Pages 30-31, Queen’s Speech 2022: background briefing notes.)

Energy Security Bill 

The principal purpose of the Energy Security Bill is to provide a safe and secure energy supply that protects customers from global price fluctuations. One aspect of this Bill is to support industry to increase investment in heat pumps by providing a new market standard and trading scheme to lower costs and assist innovation.

(Pages 32-33, Queen’s Speech 2022: background briefing notes.) 

UK Infrastructure Bank Bill

The government intends to finalise the creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank, as a means of boosting infrastructure investment. The hope is that the Bank will partner with the private sector to achieve additional infrastructure investment, focusing on under-invested areas.

(Pages 37-38, Queen’s Speech 2022: background briefing notes.)

Non-domestic Rating Bill 

The Non-domestic Rating Bill aims to modernise the business rates system by more frequent revaluations based on more accurate data so that rate bills are more responsive to economic changes.

From 2023, the revaluation cycle will be shortened to three years, from five. As confirmed in the Spring Statement 2022, two new reliefs will be introduced: 

• A 12 months’ rates relief on increases to rateable value arising from improvements made to a property.

• 100% rates relief for low-carbon heat networks that are assessed as separate entities for business rates.

It will become harder to appeal against a rating assessment on the basis of changing circumstances.

(Pages 39-40, Queen’s Speech 2022: background briefing notes.)

Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill

The Bill aims to accelerate and improve the roll out of mobile and broadband networks so that more people can have good digital connectivity quickly. This will be achieved by using existing equipment to reduce the number of new sites and installations needed and further reform of the Electronic Communications Code 2017.

(Pages 43-44, Queen’s Speech 2022: background briefing notes.)

High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill

The Bill will provide the powers to build and operate the High Speed Two (HS2) network between Crewe and Manchester. Completion of the scheme and commencement of services is expected between 2035-41.

 (Pages 47-48, Queen’s Speech 2022: background briefing notes.)

 Renters Reform Bill

 The Renters Reform Bill is an important measure for fulfilling a significant manifesto commitment. It will:

• Abolish “no-fault” section 21 evictions.

• Strengthen possession grounds for landlords faced with repeated incidences of rent arrears and reduce notice periods for anti-social behaviour so that landlords can regain possession efficiently when appropriate.

• Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector so that tenants obtain safer, better quality and better value homes.

• Introduce an Ombudsman so that disputes can be resolved without the need to go to court.

• Introduce a property portal to help landlords understand their obligations and provide tenants with performance information about their landlord.

A White Paper will be published shortly with details of the proposed reforms of the private rented sector.

(Pages 67-68, Queen’s Speech 2022: background briefing notes.)

 Other measures

 Housing

The government remains committed to transforming the residential long leasehold experience by:

• Making it easier and cheaper for long leaseholders to extend their lease, buy their freehold or control the management of their building.

• Protecting leaseholders’ exposure to unjustified legal costs and providing them with more information on what their costs cover.

• Banning new leasehold houses.

• Delivering a reformed commonhold system as an alternative to leasehold.