Contributions
2,441 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Eighth sitting)I thank the Minister for that answer. On the length of the no-let period, I think there is just a genuine principled disagreement between the two sides of the Committee about…23 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Eighth sitting)I follow the Minister’s argument, but, under those circumstances, the no-let prohibition should apply from that point under that scenario, just as it would at the point when a…23 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Eighth sitting)No, I genuinely do not. In a case where a tenant has felt so strongly that they are potentially being evicted unlawfully that they have taken the matter all the way to the court,…23 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Eighth sitting)There were some points of interest raised in this debate that we will certainly come back to—I will check the transcript in relation to a couple of them—but I do not think they…23 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Seventh sitting)I will say two things to the Minister, because I think that was a helpful answer, although his officials are going to be doing a lot of writing over the coming days and weeks. It…23 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Seventh sitting)It is a pleasure to continue our line-by-line consideration of the Bill with you in the Chair, Mr Paisley. As you said, we adjourned on Tuesday with the Minister having responded…23 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Fifth sitting)I beg to move amendment 145, in clause 3, page 2, line 32, at end insert— “(aa) after subsection (5) insert— ‘(5ZA) The court shall not make an order for possession under Ground 1…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Fifth sitting)It is an interesting debate, but not particularly pertinent to the amendments. It is not my understanding that a mandatory possession ground order can be appealed. If it can, then…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Sixth sitting)We do take a different view, because, as I have said, it is reasonable that landlords should offer first refusal to tenants. I do not know how many landlords out there are…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Sixth sitting)My colleagues behind me are making the case for me. In that scenario, I respectfully say that the landlord could legitimately exercise ground 1 and, within six months, take the…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Sixth sitting)We are disappointed with the Minister’s response, for the following reasons. We will, no doubt, hear ad nauseam about the Government’s intention and the obvious need, with which…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Sixth sitting)That is welcome, but I think the concern is still there, because what does the guidance say? We do not know. What proof does it ask for? We have a clear set of evidential…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Fifth sitting)Clause 3 amends the grounds for possession in schedule 2 to the 1988 Act, by means of the changes set out in schedule 1 to the Bill, which we will debate separately later today.…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Fifth sitting)I have been on enough Bill Committees to know that the Minister has been sent out with explicit instructions to resist amendments—we all understand that—but the Government will…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Sixth sitting)I will happily give way to the Minister again if he can say how the judge would prove an intent to sell or occupy the property without evidential requirements. The judge does not…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Fifth sitting)I think the Minister has to be very careful on that point. It depends on what the enforcement action is, and on the degree to which the landlord is at fault. The enforcement…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Sixth sitting)Clause 3, as we have discussed, amends the grounds for possession in schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988. Once section 21 has finally been removed from that Act through the…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Sixth sitting)I am glad that the hon. Gentleman has decided to contribute, because he has a huge amount of experience in this area. I hope that I was as clear as possible when making the case…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Sixth sitting)Paragraph 20 of schedule 1 amends ground 7 in schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988. Ground 7 requires a court to award possession if a tenancy has been passed to someone by will or…21 Nov 2023HANSARDRenters (Reform) Bill (Sixth sitting)In her evidence to the Committee last week, in addition to the request that she made on behalf of housing associations in respect of new ground 1B, the NHF chief executive Kate…21 Nov 2023