To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) equality impact assessment, and (2) business and regulatory impact assessment, they have conducted in relation to the build-to-rent sector.
Answered on
7 February 2023
Our main intervention in the Build to Rent sector has been the Build to Rent Fund, which was introduced in 2013-14. As part of this process, a full assessment of the economic and commercial case for intervention was undertaken. Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, including referring explicitly to Build to Rent, were consulted on in 2017 and this consultation included a summary equalities statement which considered the impact of the completion of more Build to Rent and Affordable Market Rent homes. The assessment made was that an increase in Affordable Private Rent homes are not likely to have any negative impact on overall affordable housing provision, and that the greater availability of rented homes as a result of these policies, both at market rent and Affordable Private Rent, will improve housing outcomes for people living in rented housing, including people with protected characteristics, notwithstanding some level of reduction in the number of affordable homes to be delivered by Build to Rent schemes under other tenures.