Lewis, Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth, had previously been a parliamentary under-secretary at the same department with responsibility for local government.
He takes over from Kris Hopkins, who lasted just 10 months in the job. Hopkins will remain with DCLG with his new role still to be confirmed.
Lewis becomes the fourth housing minister in less than three years, although the reshuffle has seen the housing and planning briefs restored to full minister of state level.
When Hopkins replaced Mark Prisk as housing minister in the last reshuffle the job was demoted from a ministerial role to a parliamentary under-secretary role.
Lewis also takes over the planning brief from Nick Boles,who becomes a minister for the Department for Business and Department for Education.
Matt Hancock, who had the shared education and business post before, has taken over the construction brief from Michael Fallon as business and energy minister with construction part of his remit.
He will attend cabinet meetings as part of his new role while Fallon has been promoted to defence secretary.
Mike Leonard, CEO of the Modern Masonry Alliance said, "We are pleased to welcome Brandon Lewis and applaud the decision to combine the Planning and Housing Portfolios which are of course mutually dependent.
"We remain concerned at the continual churn of housing ministers which is disruptive and poles apart from the need for a 30 year locally driven housing and infrastructure strategy.
"Consistently delivering more Brick and Block Homes built to last 150 years needs to become a national priority. This will create the wealth, jobs, growth and better homes for the customer with all the social economic benefits that will result."
