Angela Rayner has been reappointed as housing secretary as prime minister Andy Burnham announces a raft of changes with his first cabinet.
Rayner had previously held the position when Labour came to power in July 2024, but resigned in September 2025 after issues came to light over underpaid stamp duty, a situation which was resolved in May this year with Rayner facing no penalty.
Rayner will now lead the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of Andy Burnham’s cabinet, replacing the outgoing Steve Reed. Matthew Pennycook will remain in position as housing minister.
Posting on X, Angela Rayner commented: “I am delighted to have accepted the position of Secretary of State at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.”
“Andy Burnham’s vision of good growth in every postcode demands we build on the foundations we have already laid to bring the change we have promised.”
“I look forward to returning to government with renewed drive and determination to put power back in people’s hands – and hope back in our hearts.”
Rayner’s appointment marks the seventh time the position has changed hands in the last five years.
Elsewhere, John Heaney has been named as chancellor, less than two months after resigning as defence secretary, replacing the outgoing Rachel Reeves. The former treasury minister is believed to share Burnham’s ambitions for devolution and reindustrialisation.
Lawrence Turner, director of Boyer, commented: “Angela Rayner’s return provides some welcome continuity at an important point for the planning system.”
“The direction of planning reform has largely been established, but the immediate challenge is now delivery and translating policy and legislative reform into adopted local plans and homes on the ground. That will require sustained political leadership, properly resourced local planning authorities and a pragmatic response to the viability challenges, increased build costs and infrastructure constraints affecting the development industry.”
“We hope the new secretary of state will maintain momentum and provide clarity and stability for local authorities, communities and developers to kick start investment.”
Mark Chick, director of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners and senior partner at Bishop & Sewell LLP, said: “ALEP welcomes Angela Rayner’s appointment as secretary of state. Having held the role until relatively recently, she returns with a known and visible commitment to leasehold reform, having given evidence before the select committee on the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill and having been in post at the Bill’s inception.”
“The return of Angela Rayner should mean a degree of consistency and less reading-in time on leasehold issues.”
“While we await the broader policy objectives of the new cabinet, this does seem to mean ‘business as usual’ as regards leasehold reform.”
“ALEP looks forward to continuing to work constructively with MHCLG and the secretary of state as the reforms progress, to ensure workable legislation as part of a balanced programme of reform of the law in this area.”
Vanessa Hale, chief executive of Real Estate:UK, said: “Prime minister, Andy Burnham, has composed a new cabinet which blends both experience and continuity, alongside an injection of new talent and fresh ideas. The appointment of John Healey as chancellor offers stability and a relatively known quantity which should appeal to the markets and the machinery of government alike. That he is also a former housing minister, in an era where delivery challenges are so acute, should be considered an added bonus. We also welcome the return of Angela Rayner, as housing secretary, with whom we worked very productively in her previous stint and we look forward to her hitting the ground running and picking up the dialogue about how we get homes built and breathe life back into communities in conjunction with Matthew Pennycook who stays in role.”
“That said, regardless of the new team to confront them, the same challenges remain both for the economy and for real estate in particular. The need to grow the economy through sustained investment, both public and private, in those areas most likely to deliver growth, addressing the development viability challenges stymying new homes and commercial space, generating consumer and occupier confidence, and not introducing new policy or legislation liable to have a detrimental impact upon the industry. In this we wish them well.”
