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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Jan 2022
Holocaust Memorial Day

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View all Barry Gardiner (Lab - Brent North) contributions to the debate on: Holocaust Memorial Day

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 24 Jan 2022
Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [Lords]

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View all Barry Gardiner (Lab - Brent North) contributions to the debate on: Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [Lords]

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 10 Jan 2022
Building Safety

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View all Barry Gardiner (Lab - Brent North) contributions to the debate on: Building Safety

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 21 Jul 2021
Building Safety Bill

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View all Barry Gardiner (Lab - Brent North) contributions to the debate on: Building Safety Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 28 Apr 2021
Fire Safety Bill

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 27 Apr 2021
Fire Safety Bill

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View all Barry Gardiner (Lab - Brent North) contributions to the debate on: Fire Safety Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Feb 2021
Unsafe Cladding: Protecting Tenants and Leaseholders

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View all Barry Gardiner (Lab - Brent North) contributions to the debate on: Unsafe Cladding: Protecting Tenants and Leaseholders

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 24 Nov 2020
Leaseholders and Cladding

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 22 Jul 2020
Rented Homes: End of Evictions Ban

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View all Barry Gardiner (Lab - Brent North) contributions to the debate on: Rented Homes: End of Evictions Ban

Written Question
Rented Housing: Students
Thursday 18th June 2020

Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with student accommodation providers to prevent students with tenancies having to pay for properties they cannot reside in safely during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

If students have already signed an accommodation contract for next year and, because of the COVID-19 outbreak, think it may no longer fit their requirements, they should talk directly to their accommodation provider.

During these unprecedented times, the Government encourages student accommodation providers, landlords, letting agencies and tenants to take a pragmatic, flexible approach and have a frank and open conversation at the earliest?opportunity, to allow both parties to agree a sensible way forward.

In cases where students do not wish to move into the accommodation, they are able to end or surrender their fixed term tenancy if they reach an agreement with their landlord. Where students have a joint tenancy agreement, all tenants will need to agree to the surrender as well as the landlord.

In very limited situations where a student has been legally prevented from living in their accommodation, they may be entitled to a refund from certain accommodation providers. This is dependent on the terms of their contract and their particular circumstances. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published guidance on consumer contracts, cancellation and refunds affected by the coronavirus. This sets out the CMA’s view on how the law operates to help consumers understand their rights and help businesses treat their customers fairly. If students need help, organisations such as Citizens Advice offer a free service, providing information and support.