Contributions
2,441 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Q Let us come on to that, because the Government obviously will argue that the provisions in the Bill, and how we have overhauled and strengthened it from the perspective of…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Q One final question, just so that I have understood your concern. Do you question whether the tribunal has the expertise to look at all of the sources of data and evidence that…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Q Could you quickly set out to the Committee the process of going to tribunal, for those who are not aware of it? There is sometimes in the commentary this idea that it is…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Q To pick up the point made by the previous witnesses, we took the view, which is quite finely balanced, that the potential disincentives to landlords of losing potentially up to…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Thank you.22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Q Understood. By the way, there is no dispute on the Government side of the Committee as to the fact that the court system is on its knees after the past 14 years. I have one last…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Q That is useful. So you accept the “not backdating” point. I thought you took issue with the backdating and wanted it at the point of— Ben Beadle: No, no—well, I take issue with…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Q Would you accept the corresponding argument from the other side that there are already very low numbers of tenants taking their cases to tribunal, and that if each of those…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Q What do you think we should look at for options around improved alternative dispute resolution mechanisms? Ben Beadle: One of the things with section 21 is that you have an…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Your point about sifting is well made. We want to see only cases that require a judgment coming to court. Ben Beadle: Indeed.22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (First sitting)Q I have three questions, starting with court improvements. There is a shared understanding between the sector and the Government that ensuring that the Courts and Tribunals…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Second sitting)Q Given the time, I will ask you a more general question. Do you think—it sounds like you do—that the Bill broadly strikes the right balance and properly delivers for renters? Are…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Second sitting)No, not investors. You made a point about tenants. Timothy Douglas: Yes, but that is the crux of it. Unfortunately, if you push too far on the fixed-term tenancy option, the…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Second sitting)Q Can I challenge you on that point, because I have never understood it? Under the rolling, periodic tenancy system that we are introducing, a family that moves into a property…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Second sitting)Q While I have got you on that point, we heard from Ben Beadle earlier a view that landlords would adapt to the date payable of a rent when challenged—I think this is what he…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Second sitting)Q Melanie, can I address a specific question to you about suppliers? There has been a lot of discussion today about the mismatch between supply and demand. We have touched on the…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Second sitting)Q Their yields are quite generous as they are, compared with what is normal. Victoria Tolmie-Loverseed: I do not have a tiny violin for landlords, but I am just saying what we…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Second sitting)Q That is very useful. I have one final question. The previous Government did this as well, but the case for a specific ground for possession to ensure that the cyclical nature of…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Second sitting)Q Perhaps I can just check this, because I am not entirely clear: did your organisation author the Nationwide Foundation report? Anna Evans: Yes.22 Oct 2024HANSARDRenters' Rights Bill (Second sitting)Q In response to the previous Government’s White Paper, “A fairer private rented sector”, you questioned whether we should look to introduce a decent homes standard to the private…22 Oct 2024