Labour MP Florence Eshalomi (main image) has promised to hold the government to account in her new role as chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.

Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green in London, grew up on a council estate in Brixton and was formerly a London Assembly Member and Lambeth councillor, where she worked on urban development and housing shortage issues.

She has posted on X that she looked forward to “holding the government to account” and explains that fixing the housing crisis and ensuring more homes are built are crucial missions. Eshalomi adds: “Building safety, the rights of social housing tenants and private renters, local government finances, adult social care and strengthening our communities are also big issues for this Parliament.”

Stalwart

Labour stalwart Clive Betts (pictured) had chaired the committee since 2010 and was a thorn in the side of many Tory housing ministers as he wasn’t afraid to challenge government policy.

Betts has strong views on the private rented sector and suggested at one point that rental homes should be confiscated from private landlords who repeatedly break the rules and exploit tenants, and that these homes could be used to house people in need or sold to raise money for social housing.

Betts has also said private renters can be the victim of a power imbalance with their landlords, subject to unjustified hikes in rents and the fear of being forced out of their accommodation.

However, during a debate on the Renters' Rights Bill, he expressed fears that the courts would not be ready to deal with the abolition of section 21 and suggested that a new national Property Portal would stop the spread of borough-wide selective licensing schemes.