The majority of landlords remain in the dark about who currently serves as housing minister, according to new research from specialist buy-to-let lender Landbay.
Only 11% of respondents correctly identified Matthew Pennycook (pictured) as the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, despite his appointment following Labour’s election victory in July 2024.
When asked in May, many landlords incorrectly named Angela Rayner, who until recently held the dual role of deputy prime minister and secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.
Others cited Lisa Nandy, Welsh housing minister Julie James, and Baroness Rachel Maclean, who held the post under Rishi Sunak’s administration.
Several respondents expressed frustration at the continual ministerial churn, with one commenting: “No, it has changed too many times,” and another saying: “No idea – probably won’t be in post long anyway.”
Pennycook is the 17th housing minister since 2010, when the Conservatives took office. The position changed hands 16 times during their 14 years in power, including six reshuffles between 2022 and 2023 alone.
At cabinet level, Steve Reed has become the 12th housing secretary since 2010 and the second under the current Labour government.
Pennycook is best known among landlords for his role in steering the Renters’ Rights Bill through Parliament, rejecting most of the Lords’ proposed amendments as the legislation approaches Royal Assent. Meanwhile, Reed has pledged to “build baby build” in pursuit of Labour’s ambitious housing targets, telling civil servants he intends to “pull every lever” to get Britain building.
Rob Stanton, sales and distribution director at Landbay, said: “Given the fact that landlords have had to contend with a revolving door of housing ministers for more than a decade, it should come as no surprise to see them struggling to keep track of who currently holds the post.
“One way for ministers to fix this issue is to actively engage with the landlord community, understand their challenges and recognise the vital role they play in propping up the housing market and providing housing for one in five households in England and Wales.
“Instead, they continue to test the incredible resilience of landlords with unhelpful rhetoric and one-sided legislation.”
He added that despite shifting policy and political instability, the buy-to-let market remains a dependable constant. “While ministers and policy may change, landlords can rely on the buy-to-let market for continued support – whether it’s the expert advice of intermediaries to facilitate deals, or lenders such as Landbay continuing to drive innovation to support landlords in expanding or refinancing.
“The combination of quality advice and agile, forward-thinking lending will enable landlords to navigate this shifting landscape and confidently plan for the long term.”
