There has been a mixed response by the property and mortgage industry to the appointment of Michael Gove as housing secretary.

Some have cautiously welcomed the news given Gove’s prominence within the Tory party but many have criticised the high turnover of ministers in the role.

Others fear there will be little meaningful change.

Barrows and Forrester managing director James Forrester says: “The government housing carousel continues to turn as yet another one bites the dust and it remains to be seen if there will be further casualties further down the ranks.

“Michael Gove is known as a Whitehall big hitter with a reputation for rocking the boat so we may well see some changes. 

“However, the reality is probably more of the same tired, recycled rhetoric around housing policy.

“Expect to see more initiatives focussed on fuelling buyer demand to keep house prices buoyant and very little in terms of actually addressing the need for more housing.

“In recent times, those charged with addressing the current housing crisis have lasted less time in their post than it takes to sell a house. 

“No wonder the sector has been riddled with scandal and an inability to reach housing targets.”

Generation Rent director Alicia Kennedy also feels that the new Gove has much to do in order to make the market fairer to renters and aspiring buyers.

She says: “Michael Gove inherits a housing market that is destroying voters’ faith in the system.

“A safe and stable home is the foundation of a successful life, but millions of people don’t have that, because their landlord doesn’t need a reason to evict them.

“Frequent unwanted moves in the private sector make it impossible for renters to settle down or save a deposit on their first home.

“Renters have been waiting nearly two and a half years for the government to fulfil its promise to end unfair evictions – getting older and seeing their dreams crumble in that time.

“To give renters control over their lives and a stake in their local communities, Mr Gove must seize this opportunity to remake the private rental market as a provider of long term homes.”

Your Mortgage Decisions director Dominik Lipnicki says: “Once again, we see yet another housing minister being replaced after a short stint at the job.

“Admittedly, for many, Jenrick’s handling of the cladding scandal as well as his role in Richard Desmond’s controversial development would be good reasons for being sacked but the lack of any continuity makes it impossible for planning the long term solutions that the department desperately needs.

“Michael Gove comes into the role with much work to achieve, including the cladding scandal, lack of affordable homes, issues in tourist areas with holiday homes pricing locals away. 

“Ability aside, many will worry that his appointment will also be short term.”

Home Builders Federation managing director Neil Jefferson says: “Robert Jenrick helped guide the housing market through a crucial period as we sought to keep the country building safely during the early months of the pandemic. 

“It meant that Covid impact on delivery of new homes was far smaller than most expected.  

“We look forward to engaging with his successor Michael Gove on the challenges the industry faces as it looks to build on the rapid increases in housing supply over the past eight years.”

National Residential Landlords Association chief executive Ben Beadle says: “We welcome Michael Gove to his new position and look forward to working with him to ensure the rental market works for responsible landlords and tenants alike.

“Key to this will be addressing the supply crisis in the sector by developing pro-growth policies that recognise the vital contribution [the private rented sector] makes to housing millions of people across the country.”