Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Gov.UK Housing. Read the original article for full details.

Tom Riordan Appointed Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Housing

Tom Riordan has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). He will begin his new role on 21 September 2026, following an internal recruitment process.

The appointment was made by the Cabinet Secretary with the approval of the Prime Minister. Tom Riordan is currently serving as the Northern Growth Envoy, based in HM Treasury. His previous roles include Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Health and Social Care, and Chief Executive of Leeds City Council from 2010 to 2024.

This is a Permanent Secretary level appointment, offered on a fixed term basis for five years. The announcement also acknowledged the contributions of Dame Sarah Healey and Will Garton, who have provided leadership at MHCLG in recent months.

For UK letting agents and inventory clerks, this leadership change at MHCLG may be relevant as the department oversees housing policy and local government matters. The appointment follows a period of interim leadership and comes at a time when the government is focusing on housing, local places, and community empowerment.