Contributions
2,684 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI very much take the hon. Gentleman’s point. I do not believe that either of those two cases would count as antisocial behaviour under our proposals, but we need to ensure that we…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillIt is not so much this Bill; it is more the steps that we are taking in order to improve the justice system that will help, but I would be grateful if my hon. Friend would write…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI will give way to colleagues in a moment. The key thing to consider when thinking about how those in the private rented sector live is that the overwhelming majority of landlords…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI am more than happy to give way—23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillActually, I agree with my right hon. Friend. It is vital that we ensure that the courts system is reformed and that we have end-to-end digitisation. We have seen section 21…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillAlthough the right hon. Gentleman and I have had many disagreements, there is no one who doubts that he is a very assiduous constituency Member, and he is right that the pressures…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillPlease forgive me; I am just responding to the right hon. Gentleman. It is the case that our effective system of tribunals ensures that excessive rents that are way out of kilter…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillBriefly, I wish to declare my interest. As the parent of a daughter who is currently at Manchester University, I know exactly what the hon. Gentleman means. We will be doing…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillOf course, landlords and any property owner must have the right to sell their home if they need or wish to do so; nothing should interfere with that. None the less, it is the case…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI will not give way at this stage; I will make a wee bit of progress, then I hope to give way shortly. I want to emphasise that a healthy private rented sector is in all our…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI agree with the hon. Gentleman up to a point, but I would not characterise it in quite that way. On the basis of everything that he has said, that was completely the wrong…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI am very fond of my hon. Friend, but that is just not true. We have seen an increase in the number of homes in the private rented sector recently, not a reduction.…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI am deeply sorry to hear about the personal tragedy that the hon. Lady’s constituents have suffered—please do pass on my sympathy and condolences. I would say, though, that this…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillNo, I have been generous so far. Every intervention only takes time from those who wish to contribute to the debate. Let me develop my argument and then I will give way to some…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillMy hon. Friend makes an important point, which gives me an opportunity to apologise to the House, on behalf of the Government, my Department and in particular myself, for the…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Before I get into the detail of what the Bill allows for and the reforms that it portends, may I say a few words of thanks?…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI am now more than happy to give way to a range of colleagues.23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillAs the hon. Gentleman knows, I have an enormous amount of respect for the work that he does in this area. I would draw a distinction between the response to the Select Committee’s…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillI am very happy to give way to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas), then to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), then to the hon. Member for…23 Oct 2023HANSARD Renters (Reform) BillAbsolutely. The sooner the Bill is on the statute book, the sooner we can proceed. Alongside that, we of course need to ensure that the justice system, as my right hon. Friend the…23 Oct 2023