Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to (a) restrict the ability of lettings agents to charge administrative fees to tenants and (b) sanction the (i) improper, (ii) excessive and (iii) arbitrary levying of those fees.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 was approved by Parliament with cross-party support and came into force on 1 June 2019.
The Tenant Fees Act bans unfair letting fees and caps tenancy deposits paid by tenants in the private rented sector in England. From 1 June 2020 the Act applies to all assured shorthold tenancies.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend section 122(1) of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to impose duties on public landlords as well as private landlords of residential premises in England for the purposes of ensuring that electrical safety standards are met during any period when the premises are occupied under a tenancy.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
In the Social Housing Green Paper we asked whether safety standards, including electrical safety, that apply in the private rented sector should also apply to social housing.
We will bring forward a?Social Housing White Paper, which will set out further measures to ensure social homes are safe and decent. This will include measures to provide greater redress, better regulation and improve the quality of social housing. We will publish the White Paper in due course.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of climate change on the work of his Department; and what steps he is taking in response to that effect.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Achieving net zero is a priority for the whole of government, which is why the Prime Minister is chairing a new Cabinet Committee on Climate Change to drive action across all sectors of the economy and demonstrate the UK’s global leadership as we prepare to host the crucial COP26 talks in Glasgow in November.
My Department has a critical role in fighting climate change through our work on housing, planning and building standards. Our consultation on energy efficiency standards for new homes closes on 7 February. The Department is also responsible for working with local government to build resilience capability in response to its impacts.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will (a) implement the recommendation of housing association Habinteg and make accessible and adaptable (M4(2) Category 2) the mandatory baseline for all new housing and (b) issue detailed guidance to local planning authorities on how they should reflect the housing needs of older and disabled people in their plans as required by the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017.
Answered by Esther McVey - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
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 the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funds for the new powers to bring about change and unlock the potential for the bus industry to achieve more for passengers as set out in the Bus Services Act 2017.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
The Secretary of State meets with ministers, including HMT ministers, regularly to discuss a range of issues relating to local government. Local authorities in England outside London spend over £1 billion a year on bus services. Over the five year period from 2015-16 to 2019-20 councils will have access to more than £200 billion, after the Autumn 2018 budget.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of housing associations which request upfront payment of rent in advance before an offered tenancy can be secured.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Department does not hold this data. We understand that many landlords ask for rent in advance and it is part of the agreement between individual tenant and landlord. As responsible companies with a social purpose we expect housing associations to let their homes in a fair, transparent and efficient way that takes into account the housing needs of tenants and potential tenants.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on the Accelerated Construction programme.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member for Bristol North West to the answer I gave to Question UIN 108557 on 27 October 2017.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on the previous government's Accelerated Construction programme.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The Government is committed to the principles of the Accelerated Construction programme. These principles include using Modern Methods of Construction, partnering with small and medium-sized builders, contractors and others, to increase the pace of construction on surplus public sector land.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to allow local authorities to implement mandatory licensing for landlords; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Local authorities already implement mandatory licensing of HMOs through powers under the Housing Act 2004. The Government has recently consulted on extending mandatory licensing to include properties which are occupied by five persons in two or more households, regardless of the number of storeys. This would bring a further 180,000 under the scope of mandatory licensing. Under the same Act, local authorities also have powers to introduce additional licensing for smaller HMOs; and selective licensing for all privately rented properties to tackle various issues in specified areas.