These should be the eight new priorities for Jenrick and Pincher

The reference to “helping people more onto the ladder” suggests yet more wheezes that will help some to buy while continuing to pump up prices for everyone else. Stamp duty cuts here we come?

“Building safer, greener, beautiful homes” lumps together three different issues while ignoring the safety of existing buildings and avoiding specific commitments on the environmental and design standards of new ones.

“Working to end rough sleeping” repeats the manifesto commitment to do so by the end of this parliament but says nothing about how it will be achieved.

“Delivering our mission to level up” is this government’s version of “a country that works for everyone” but again offers few clues about how.

A first council tax revaluation since 1991, ending the absurd situation where people in Worksop pay more than those in Westminster, would be a good start to that mission. Reports over the weekend suggest that it has already been ruled out.

So here are a few brief suggestions from me about what his real priorities should be:

• Fix the cladding crisis

For all the government promises and announcements, things are still getting worse for leaseholders trapped in unsaleable flats as mortgage lenders start to refuse loans on medium as well as high-rise buildings.

Mr Jenrick has so far turned down pleas to extend the remediation fund to materials other than aluminium composite material and dropped hints of a loan scheme for others affected. This is not remotely enough.

• End abuse of leasehold

This is a curious omission from the list given that the Conservative manifesto promised to end the sale of new leasehold houses and reduce ground rents to a peppercorn.

Perhaps this is because, as above, the promises do nothing for existing leaseholders.

• Deliver a new deal for social housing

It’s 18 months since a different housing secretary set out “our desire to rebalance the relationship between residents and landlords, to tackle stigma and ensure social housing can be both a safety net and a springboard to homeownership” in the Social Housing Green Paper.

When the white paper is finally published, will Mr Jenrick follow through on all James Brokenshire’s fine words – or just the last bit?

• Boost security for private renters

Ending Section 21 is a manifesto commitment, so Mr Jenrick had the chance to signal that his priorities are not just about homeownership – but did not take it. An ominous sign?

• Encourage sustainable growth in homeownership

The housing secretary’s most eye-catching policy, First Homes, contains the germ of a good idea in that it preserves the discount in perpetuity for each new buyer.

However, the details very much remain to be seen and as currently formulated the scheme looks set to squeeze out up to 80 per cent of the affordable homes currently delivered via Section 106.

• Build more homes for social rent

Figures last week showed that social rent has accounted for just four per cent of homes delivered through the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme since 2016.

Theresa May seemed to understand the important of building homes at genuinely affordable rents – not least to delivering on that promise to end rough sleeping – but does Mr Johnson see beyond trains and bridges and Mr Jenrick beyond the housing ladder?

• Take a lead on the decarbonisation of housing

With all eyes on the UK ahead of COP26, this would be a good way to show the government’s commitment to tackling climate change.

Figures buried in the Conservative manifesto suggest that it will soon be announcing a Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Homes Upgrade Grants for the private sector. Starting the process in the North would be a good way to start levelling up. Taking advantage of Brexit by cutting VAT on repairs and maintenance would kick-start the whole process.

• Ensure housing benefit covers the cost of rents

OK, this is the responsibility of work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey, but it is a crucial issue for Mr Jenrick, too. The gap between rents and housing benefit creates homelessness and all those promises on rough sleeping and homelessness prevention will not be met unless it is closed.

Those are just a few of the issues that should be at the top of Mr Jenrick’s agenda. In the longer term, he should also be tackling the growth of short-term letting, finding housing solutions to the retail crisis and developing a strategy for housing for older people.

Sadly his stated priorities suggest that he has eyes only for the short term.

Jules Birch, award-winning blogger