Unlike his predecessors Esther McVey and Dominic Raab, Christopher Pincher is far from a household name. Tipped as a future cabinet member ahead of the general election back in 1997, he’s waited a long time for his moment in the spotlight.
The MP for Tamworth has held relatively modest posts as a minister in the Foreign Office and deputy chief whip. “This government will deliver on our commitment to build the housing that people need. Looking forward to getting stuck in alongside @RobertJenrick,” he tweeted as the news broke.
His track record on construction is something of a conundrum. He campaigned against the building of High Speed 2, but pressured Persimmon to complete its construction of the half-built Tame Alloys Estate in Wilnecote.
On first glance, his voting record does not appear to bode well for renters and social housing tenants. He voted to reduce housing benefit for social housing tenants and against raising welfare benefits in line with prices. He has also advocated phasing out secure tenancies.
Franz Doerr, founder and CEO of flatfair, said: “We hope that he [Pincher] continues to recognise the importance of driving a fairer and more effective rental market and commit to leveraging the latest technology to find solutions to the issues faced by millions of renters and homeowners across the country.”
As a former IT consultant and member of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, Pincher could be a good fit for the government’s new agenda which focusses on smarter, greener homes. However, the industry will also demand his attention on numerous issues which have been left to fester at the bottom of the agenda.
Mary-Anne Bowring, group managing director of Ringley, said: “Christopher Pincher needs to bring with him a sense of real energy and commitment and Boris Johnson would do well to keep them on for the long-term. Without stability at the top, the government risks sleepwalking into multiple crises, as issues around fire safety and leasehold reform remain unresolved, while the continued squeeze on buy-to-let landlords threatens to make renting even more unaffordable for many.
“The Housing Minister is not only a custodian of the safety of the current housing stock, but must be brave enough to think what future living is going to be as the lines between work and life continue to blur. Homes must provide shelter, but happy homes make for better mental health and if trends continue and housing is to be inhabited rather than owned then the lines of work and life and fun must blur.”
Sadly, history dictates that Pincher is unlikely to be in the role long enough to make any tangible difference.
Mark Hayward, Chief Executive, NAEA Propertymark and David Cox, Chief Executive, ARLA Propertymark, concluded: “We welcome Christopher Pincheras the new Housing Minister. Unfortunately, the lack of continuity in this post and the persistent changes means it’s near impossible for anyone in the role to make an impact. Fixing the broken housing market should be the priority, and there’s a number of consultations and policy that requires action – most importantly the Regulation of Property Agents. We look forward to working with the new Minister on these important changes to the industry.”
PICTURE CREDIT: Saeima The image has been cropped.
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