Contributions
2,441 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)I beg the indulgence of the Committee to spend a little time setting out the Government’s position on this schedule, because it is a key part of the Bill. As we have discussed,…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)In addition to the points I made previously, I briefly draw the shadow Minister’s attention to the fact that ground 8 will remain mandatory, and discretionary grounds will also be…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)Taken together, amendments 62 and 63 seek to remove the requirement for a tenant to meet the arrears threshold for mandatory eviction at the date of hearing. Instead, they would…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)I beg to move amendment 2, in schedule 1, page 157, leave out line 13. This allows Ground 1B to be used to obtain possession whenever the landlord intends to grant an assured…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)I thank the hon. Lady for her further contribution. I have weighed very carefully in the balance, and looking at the Bill in the round, whether a two-year protected period would…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)As the hon. Member for Bristol Central has set out, amendments 42 and 43 seek to extend the protected period for the moving in and selling grounds to two years. Amendment 58, in…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)I will consider that matter further. To be candid with the Committee, some judgments on provisions relating to student accommodation are finely balanced. We are trying to strike a…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)As the hon. Gentleman has just made clear, amendments 56 and 57 seek to reduce the notice period for the selling ground 1A from four months to two months. The Government believe…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)I wish to provide further reassurance to the hon. Member for Taunton and Wellington, because I fear that we are dancing on the head of a pin here. Under the provisions in the…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)Perhaps I can reassure the hon. Gentleman. The mandatory grounds for possession are very limited and specific—for example, grounds 1 and 1A, where the landlord has a clear…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for tabling these amendments, which allow us to have this debate. In my view—I think this is shared across the House —landlords must have robust and…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Christopher. Before I respond to amendments 48 and 54, tabled in the name of the shadow Minister, I put on the record my…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Fourth sitting)We pick up a point we have just debated, which is the enforcement framework that the Bill provides for. The reforms we are putting in place will be underpinned by an effective,…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Third sitting)I will begin by discussing Government amendments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9. Rent-to-buy tenancies help prospective homeowners to get on the housing ladder. New possession ground 1B will…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Fourth sitting)That is a niche point—one of many we have had on some of the more technical clauses. That is not a concern that has been expressed to the Government in relation to this clause or…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for that point; it is well made and well understood. As I will write to him on the subject of no recourse to public funds, I will ensure that that…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Fourth sitting)Clause 25 will maintain important deposit protections so that tenants can be confident that their money is being handled safely. Landlords will be required to comply with deposit…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for that point. I hope he will be satisfied with the following answer: extensive engagement has taken place between Departments in developing this Bill…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Fourth sitting)That has usefully clarified the point that the shadow Minister is driving at. Local authorities are well-experienced in the administration of council tax, including determining…29 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Fourth sitting)To reassure the shadow Minister on the general matter, there has again been extensive engagement with local authorities on the development of this Bill. I think he referred to…29 Oct 2024