Steve Reed has replaced Angela Rayner as Housing Secretary following her resignation over a Stamp Duty underpayment and breach of the ministerial code.

Reed, the MP for Streatham and Croydon North and former leader of Lambeth Council, has a record of supporting tougher regulation of letting agents and backing wider landlord licensing.

Track Record

• Letting agent fees: In 2013, Reed called for stronger regulation, describing fees as a “rip-off culture.”

• Licensing: He has consistently supported more local licensing schemes.

• Stamp Duty: Backed higher rates in the 2024 Autumn Budget.

• Tenancies: Opposed phasing out secure tenancies for life in earlier debates, diverging from Labour’s main policy line.

• Renters’ Rights Bill: Publicly supports the legislation, now in its final stages in Parliament.

Industry Response

Greg Tsuman, managing director for lettings at Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents and former ARLA Propertymark president, warned that constant ministerial changes risk further instability:  “Rather than pushing simplistic narratives that demonise landlords, politicians must acknowledge their role in creating pressures driving up rents and reducing supply. With the Renters’ Rights Bill back in Parliament, it’s likely many common-sense amendments from the Lords will be rejected, leaving landlords facing more pressure — costs that will inevitably feed into higher rents.”

Takeaway

Reed’s appointment signals continuity rather than change: tighter regulation, more licensing, and support for the Renters’ Rights Bill. Landlords and agents should expect greater scrutiny of fees and costs alongside the ongoing push for affordability in the sector.