Lee Rowley has been appointed as the housing minister following the sacking of Rachel Maclean, who was in the role for nine months
Rowley is the 16th appointment to the housing minister position since the Conservatives came into power in 2010.
Rowley is the Member of Parliament for North East Derbyshire; previously held the position for a brief 48-day period in 2022 during the tenure of Liz Truss.
Rowley previously worked as a parliamentary undersecretary of state in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities.
Maclean disappointed by her sacking
Maclean announced her sacking on the afternoon of November 13, on X, saying she was “disappointed” that she had been asked to resign following the prime minister’s cabinet reshuffle.
“Looking forward to introducing the Renter Reform Bill to the committee tomorrow and later the Leasehold and Freehold Bill. It has been a privilege to hold the position, and I wish my successor well,” said Maclean.
Maclean was the longest holder of the position since Christopher Pincher, who left the role in February 2022 after an almost two-year tenure.
The future of other key players in the UK’s construction industry, such as the secretary of state for levelling up, housing, and communities, Michael Gove, business secretary Kemi Badenoch and business minister Nusrat Ghani, remain uncertain.
Lee Rowley took on the housing minister role during a decline in private housebuilding, worsened by high-interest rates. In September, PwC consultancy projected a 21% decrease in housebuilding output for the year. According to the S&P Global/CIPS UK Purchasing Managers’ Index, this decline has been driven by a decline in private housebuilding.
Rowley’s appointment met with criticism
Rowley will oversee the Renters Reform Bill, introduced in May, to end “no-fault” evictions. He must also address the Leasehold and Freehold Bill, confirmed in the recent King’s Speech. The bill will aim to eliminate punitive service charges and facilitate easier acquisition of freeholds by leaseholders.
Some construction industry stakeholders have met with the reshuffle and subsequent appointment of Rowlett with reservations.
“The revolving door of housing ministers has turned once more. For a sector that thrives on certainty and wants to see a long-term housing plan, such discontinuity in personnel is a significant concern and actively undermines investment and long-term commitment across the sector,” commented Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation.
