Contributions
2,441 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)Ms Fovargue, may I take the opportunity to put on record our thanks to you and your colleagues in the Chair for overseeing our proceedings? I also thank our exemplary Clerks for…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank the Minister for his response. I do not intend to labour the point at any length, as we have discussed the matter on a number of occasions. I think that there is a clear…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. In considering the replacement possession regime that the Bill will introduce, we have been at pains to convince the…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause 56 Extending discretion of court in possession claims “(1) The Housing Act 1988 is amended as…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I note the Minister’s criticism of the new clause as drafted, but does he recognise the point it seeks to raise: the concern that vulnerable tenants might come under pressure from…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. I was going to apologise to the Committee for the slightly obscure nature of my new clause, but after all that, I think it is…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank the Minister for that response. That is probably the most detail we have had on what the Government see as the necessary court improvements, but, to be frank, it is not…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)The Minister says that this is not a delaying tactic. I take him at his word. Will he therefore explain why the two-stage transition process provided for by the clause does not…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)That is an interesting point. Let me probe the Minister on it. There is no maximum period for the implementation of the second date—in other words, there is no period by which the…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I beg to move amendment 169, in clause 67, page 62, line 21, at end insert— “, save that section 2(b) comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed only to the extent…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)My hon. Friend is right. We know that standards in the social rented sector are inadequate; that is why the Government brought forward their recent legislation, which we…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank the Minister for that answer. I fully accept that there is a difference between a large registered social landlord, and a mum-and-dad landlord, who might own only one or…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I will just make this point. The Minister said that the Government do not think it is of interest to tenants; I would be very interested to know what surveys the Government have…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Tenth sitting)I welcome that response from the Minister. With regard to Government amendments, I thank him for what he said about the HHSRS and the more fundamental review of the decent homes…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Ninth sitting)Can the Minister also give us a clearer view of the Government’s view of the future of selective licensing following the Bill’s enactment, given that such schemes are crucial…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Ninth sitting)My hon. Friend’s point is extremely well made. As I have commented already, there is an issue about which local authorities prioritise these services, but precisely because they…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Ninth sitting)I absolutely agree with the Minister that we are of one mind in wanting to ensure that these blanket bans are prohibited: he is right that they have no place in our modern housing…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Ninth sitting)Part 3 of the Bill concerns the enforcement authorities, and clause 58 is the key clause. It imposes a new duty on local authorities to enforce, by means of financial penalties or…28 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Eighth sitting)I am still not clear why it is deemed appropriate under those two specific grounds for assured tenancies—as is currently the case—but not under the new system. However, I am not…23 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Eighth sitting)I bridle slightly at the use of the word “allow”. [ Laughter. ] I have two questions for the Minister in relation to this clause. Under the provisions of the Housing Act 1988,…23 Nov 2023