A Bill to amend section 157 of the Housing Act 1985 to extend the use of local occupancy clauses to certain urban areas with the permission of the Secretary of State; to increase the qualifying period of local occupancy clauses from three years to either five or ten years; to place a duty on the Homes and Communities Agency and local authorities with housing and planning responsibilities to promote co-operative and mutual housing options and report annually in this regard; to require the Homes and Communities Agency, local authorities and the Land Registry to identify land available for housing development which has not been developed and to publish a report on the available options for development of housing on such land; and for connected purposes.
The Housing Market Reform Bill would let local occupancy rules apply in more urban areas with permission from the Secretary of State. It would also extend how long those rules can stay in place (from 3 years to 5 or 10 years), require the Homes and Communities Agency and local authorities to promote cooperative and mutual housing and report annually, and require identification of undeveloped land with housing potential and publishing options for its development.
The bill is currently at the 2nd reading stage in the House of Commons. If it progresses, it would move to committee stage and then further readings.
Generated 21 February 2026
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
