Housing and planning minister Gavin Barwell has lost his seat after Labour made considerable gains the General Election.
The MP for Croydon Central received 42.4% of the vote, against Labour’s Sarah Jones who received 52.3%.
Barwell has held the seat since 2010, though with a majority of just 165 votes in 2015.
The results of a hung parliament make it unclear who could succeed him, which will depend on which party or parties form a government.
The question for the sector will be whether it means a turnaround on the inclusive housing policy that Barwell and communities secretary Sajid Javid have put forward over the last 12 months.
Conservative MPs with housing experience
■ Brandon Lewis: MP for Great Yarmouth. The former housing minister is close to May and was moved to the Home Office with the police and fire portfolio after the referendum. He may prefer a cabinet position.
■ Mark Prisk: MP for Hertford and Stortford and another former housing minister. A background as a chartered surveyor.
■ Nick Boles: MP for Grantham and Stamford, planning minister between 2012 and 2014.
■ John Glen: MP for Salisbury, Wiltshire, worked as parliamentary private secretary for Eric Pickles when he headed up the DCLG.
■ Chris Philp: MP for Croydon South, has been speaking on a range of subjects for the party recently. He founded property development lender Pluto Capital.
■ Michael Gove: MP for Surrey Heath – a long-shot. One of the architects of the referendum.
■ Dominic Raab: MP for Esher and Walton, formerly parliamentary undersecretary of state, minister for human rights.
Labour MPs with housing experience
■ John Healey: MP for Wentworth and Dearne, shadow housing secretary, a former housing minster
■ Emma Reynolds: MP for Wolverhampton North East, a former shadow housing minister under Ed Miliband.
■ Margaret Beckett: MP for Derby South, a former housing minister from 2008 to 2010
An unexpected appointment
It was a surprise for many when the relatively unknown Barwell was appointed by prime minister Theresa May in her cabinet reshuffle in the aftermath of the referendum, especially when there had been speculation housing could become a cabinet post.
But in the year since taking over the position, Barwell has impressed many in the industry with his grasp of the role.
Together with communities secretary Sajid Javid, he has embraced multiple tenures, backed housing associations, empowered the HCA and new methods of construction, taken a stab at limited planning reform and even encouraged modest levels of council-house building.
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Adam Challis, head of residential research at JLL, said: “I would not want to make a prediction, but it would be a great shame [if Barwell were not to continue as housing minister] as he has been both insightful and pragmatic in seeking out housing solutions.”
While the housing white paper in February lacked the teeth many were hoping for, it showed an understanding of a multi-tenure solution the previous government had shied away from.
But consistency has never been a strong part of the housing minister role. Before Barwell, ministers have struggled to hold it for longer than two years.
“There is not enough longevity in the role and the pace of churn of housing ministers undermines its effectiveness,” added Challis.
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■ Bookmark www.egi.co.uk/news/election2017 to find out the property fallout after this morning’s hung parliament announcement.
