Written Question
Tuesday 27th November 2018
Asked by:
Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has read the report, The hidden costs of poor quality housing in the North, published in October 2018 by the Northern Consortium; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
My officials have noted the contents of the Report. The Report recognises that the Decent Homes Standard has made a real difference to the lives of tenants by driving improvements to standards in social housing. Since 2010, the proportion of social homes failing to meet the Decent Homes Standard is down 7 percentage points and the proportion of private rented homes is down 10 percentage points.
Most landlords provide decent, high quality accommodation, but a minority of them are not keeping their properties in a safe condition. We have strengthened local authorities’ enforcement powers, introduced civil penalties, extended rent repayment orders, introduced banning orders and extended licensing of higher-risk houses in multiple occupation. These measures will go a long way to crack down on landlords who neglect their properties, and rogue landlords will have to improve their properties or leave the business.
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is being reviewed to assess how well it works in practice and whether it needs to be updated. The Government is also supporting the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill which will require landlords to ensure that their properties are free from potentially serious hazards at the start of and throughout a tenancy.
Speech in General Committees - Mon 22 Oct 2018
Draft Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2018
"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. Last week, I held a debate in Westminster Hall on the £3 billion investment required to make the east coast main line fit for purpose and thereby ensure it helps to deliver the economic potential of communities served by …..."Catherine McKinnell - View Speech
View all Catherine McKinnell (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne North) contributions to the debate on: Draft Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2018
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 17 Oct 2018
East Coast Main Line Investment
"I beg to move,
That this House has considered East Coast Mainline investment.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Owen, not least because I have attempted to secure a debate on this issue for some time in my capacity as chair of the all-party parliamentary group …..."Catherine McKinnell - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 17 Oct 2018
East Coast Main Line Investment
"That is off-point with regard to the east coast main line, but it is an excellent suggestion that we should pursue. I am sure that there would be a lot of support for bringing home—back to Newcastle and the north-east—more of what is rightly ours when it comes to our …..."Catherine McKinnell - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 17 Oct 2018
East Coast Main Line Investment
"I absolutely agree. I will make the case that investment is not only about the infrastructure of the vital east coast spine that runs up and down our country, but about the major impact that that would have on all the contributing branch lines and communities that rely on that …..."Catherine McKinnell - View Speech
View all Catherine McKinnell (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne North) contributions to the debate on: East Coast Main Line Investment
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 17 Oct 2018
East Coast Main Line Investment
"My hon. Friend has put her concerns firmly on the record. The Minister may wish to refer to them at the end of the debate. Otherwise, I am sure that she will make her concerns about the issue known again.
As well as celebrating our railway of the past, this …..."Catherine McKinnell - View Speech
View all Catherine McKinnell (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne North) contributions to the debate on: East Coast Main Line Investment
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 17 Oct 2018
East Coast Main Line Investment
"I would go further than my hon. Friend and say that it is not only ironic but completely unacceptable. That is part of the case that I want to make to the Minister.
The east coast main line is a significant employer in its own right, as more than 3,000 …..."Catherine McKinnell - View Speech
View all Catherine McKinnell (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne North) contributions to the debate on: East Coast Main Line Investment
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 17 Oct 2018
East Coast Main Line Investment
"My hon. Friend makes a vital point very well. I absolutely support that call—indeed, I support the call for such improvements to be made right up and down the line. That is something we should all focus on.
I am sure that many hon. Members will want to raise such …..."Catherine McKinnell - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 17 Oct 2018
East Coast Main Line Investment
"Absolutely. The hon. Gentleman has put that clearly on the record, and it would be good if the Minister referred to it in his response to the debate. Indeed, it is also an issue that the APPG can take up as part of the wider call to ensure that on …..."Catherine McKinnell - View Speech
View all Catherine McKinnell (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne North) contributions to the debate on: East Coast Main Line Investment
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 17 Oct 2018
East Coast Main Line Investment
"I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and I have huge respect for her grasp of detail as Chair of the Select Committee on Transport. I thank her for her support in this debate. She has highlighted some of the issues specific to the north-east, whereas I have been working …..."Catherine McKinnell - View Speech
View all Catherine McKinnell (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne North) contributions to the debate on: East Coast Main Line Investment