Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the proposed amendments to the Tenant Fees Act 2019 by the Renters (Reform) Bill to include pet insurance as a permitted payment by landlords, what discussions they have had with insurance providers to ensure those charges are affordable.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Officials in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have engaged with a range of stakeholders, including insurance providers, whilst developing the legislation introduced in the Renters (Reform) Bill.
Insurance policies vary in their terms, conditions and charges, and the Government would encourage landlords and tenants to agree on a policy covering pet damage that suits both their needs. It will ultimately be a personal choice for tenants whether they wish to keep a pet and therefore whether they are willing to pay for insurance as a part of their agreement with their landlord.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the proposed amendments to the Tenant Fees Act 2019 by the Renters (Reform) Bill to include pet insurance as a permitted payment by landlords, what support will be provided to pet-owning tenants (1) on low incomes, or (2) who receive benefits, to make those payments.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Officials in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have engaged with a range of stakeholders, including insurance providers, whilst developing the legislation introduced in the Renters (Reform) Bill.
Insurance policies vary in their terms, conditions and charges, and the Government would encourage landlords and tenants to agree on a policy covering pet damage that suits both their needs. It will ultimately be a personal choice for tenants whether they wish to keep a pet and therefore whether they are willing to pay for insurance as a part of their agreement with their landlord.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the A Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector consultation, which ran from 2 September to 14 October.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We are currently analysing and considering the feedback received from the consultation and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the Renters Reform Bill has been delayed; and when it will be published.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government monitors private landlord's intentions to increase or decrease the size of their portfolios within the next two years through the English Private Landlords Survey. The last survey was published in May 2022.
To help vulnerable renters who are facing eviction, in 2022/23 local authorities received £316 million in funding for the Homelessness Prevention Grant. Local authorities can use this funding flexibly to meet their homelessness and rough sleeping strategies - for example, to offer financial support for people to find a new home, to work with landlords to prevent evictions or to provide temporary accommodation, among other preventative measures.
Legislation will be announced in the usual way.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prospects of an increase in evictions of private renters due to their landlord selling the property between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023; and what forecast they have made, if any, of the extent of any such increase.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government monitors private landlord's intentions to increase or decrease the size of their portfolios within the next two years through the English Private Landlords Survey. The last survey was published in May 2022.
To help vulnerable renters who are facing eviction, in 2022/23 local authorities received £316 million in funding for the Homelessness Prevention Grant. Local authorities can use this funding flexibly to meet their homelessness and rough sleeping strategies - for example, to offer financial support for people to find a new home, to work with landlords to prevent evictions or to provide temporary accommodation, among other preventative measures.
Legislation will be announced in the usual way.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any barriers to landlords selling properties with sitting tenants.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Further to the 'A Fairer Private Rented Sector' White Paper, the Government encourages any landlord who wishes to sell their property to consider selling with sitting tenants. This can be easier and faster for the existing landlord and, by allowing the tenant to stay in their home, it can save the eventual buyer the cost of finding a reliable tenant.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to support individuals who rent and have a pet (1) dog, or (2) cat, find suitable accommodation.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Everyone has the right to make the house they rent a home and responsible pet owners should not be discriminated against. This is why the Government have outlined legislative plans in our recently published White Paper, 'A Fairer Private Rented Sector', to ensure that private landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent when tenants request to have a pet in their home. We will also give tenants a right to challenge unreasonable decisions.
Alongside this, we will make it easier for landlords to accept pets by amending the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to include pet insurance as a permitted payment. This means landlords will be able to require pet insurance, so that any damage to their property is covered.
Currently landlords can use the Model Tenancy Agreement (MTA), the government's recommended contract for assured shorthold tenancies in the private rented sector, which aims to make it easier for tenants with pets to find private landlords who will accept them.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the uptake of the revised Model Tenancy Agreement to support more pet-friendly accommodation.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government has not made any specific assessment of the uptake of the revised Model Tenancy Agreement (MTA) in relation to supporting more pet-friendly accommodation. The most recent report from the English Private Landlord Survey (EPLS 2021) showed that 52% of landlords who responded said they used the MTA for assured shorthold tenancies. The same report also showed that less than half (45%) of private landlords are unwilling to let to tenants with pets.
The revision of the MTA aimed to make it easier for tenants with pets to find private landlords who will accept them. While the use of the MTA and adherence to its contents is optional, we set out in our White Paper, ‘A Fairer Private Rented Sector’, that we will go further by legislating to ensure that private landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent when tenants request to have a pet in their home. Tenants will be able to challenge unreasonable decisions. Alongside this, we will make it easier for landlords to accept pets by amending the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to include pet insurance as a permitted payment. This means landlords will be able to require pet insurance, so that any damage to their property is covered.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is taking to address the High Court judgment of 3 May 2019 which found the arrangements for (1) blind, and (2) partially sighted, voters were unlawful.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The changes in the Elections Bill aim to strengthen the support for all voters with disabilities in the polling station, including those that are blind or partially sighted, and to improve the way that this support is delivered. Rather than a blanket provision, we want voters with any form of disability to get the support that is right for them and for Returning Officers to tailor their approach to suit the needs of disabled electors in their area - including blind and partially sighted voters.
We are working with the Electoral Commission to support guidance being produced to assist Returning Officers in carrying out their new duty. Whilst greater emphasis will be placed on meeting local disabled electors’ needs, including those who are blind and partially sighted, in a way which is tailored and targeted to their individual needs, the guidance will set clear baseline expectations and standards to support equal access to equipment and resources.
The 2019 Judicial Review showed that the existing legislation is no longer fit for purpose and the changes in the Elections Bill will address this.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that (1) blind, and (2) partially sighted, voters have equal access to voting aids under the Elections Bill.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The changes in the Elections Bill aim to strengthen the support for all voters with disabilities in the polling station, including those that are blind or partially sighted, and to improve the way that this support is delivered. Rather than a blanket provision, we want voters with any form of disability to get the support that is right for them and for Returning Officers to tailor their approach to suit the needs of disabled electors in their area - including blind and partially sighted voters.
We are working with the Electoral Commission to support guidance being produced to assist Returning Officers in carrying out their new duty. Whilst greater emphasis will be placed on meeting local disabled electors’ needs, including those who are blind and partially sighted, in a way which is tailored and targeted to their individual needs, the guidance will set clear baseline expectations and standards to support equal access to equipment and resources.
The 2019 Judicial Review showed that the existing legislation is no longer fit for purpose and the changes in the Elections Bill will address this.