Simon Clarke MP, previously a minister for Local Government has been made Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in new Prime Minister Liz Truss's new Cabinet.

Mr Clarke comes into office as reports suggest that current bids for levelling up funding could be "over subscribed by billions" and, following the Scottish government's freezing of rent levels in both social and private rented sector tenancies (effective 6th September) and banning of evictions over the coming winter.

The Scottish rent freeze seems to have led to calls for a similar private rented sector emergency rent freeze and eviction ban for tenants in England as well.

The rent freeze has been criticised by private rented sector industry bodies PropertyMark and the NRLA and the Scottish Association of Landlords' chief exec, John Blackwood, has said "Who on earth is going to let a property when they know tenants can simply choose not to pay rent or commit anti-social behaviour and there is nothing that they can do about it.". Rightly, he is calling for more detail from the Scottish Gov't.

There will be a huge amount to deal with on Mr Clarke's DLUHC plate and some local authority observers have concerns. He is said to have told councils at the recent Local Government Association conference that they "would have to 'prioritise' and manage within their existing budgets in the face of rising costs as a result of inflation."

For both private rented sector landlords and local authority housing standards and selective licensing teams it remains to be seen what will happen to the rental reform proposals currently on the table of upcoming legislative delights.