Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Mike Thornton and Kris Hopkins
Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) (LD)
1. What steps his Department is taking to tackle rogue landlords.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Kris Hopkins)
We are determined to crack down on the small number of rogue landlords who neglect their properties and exploit their tenants. We have provided £6.5 million to local authorities and have recently published a discussion paper on improving property conditions in the private rented sector that focuses on tackling rogue landlords.
Mike Thornton
I am pleased that the Government are taking action on this issue, which affects so many of my Eastleigh constituents. Will the Minister assure me that, as part of the review, he will give adequate consideration to ensuring that rented homes are fitted with life-saving fire and carbon monoxide detectors, particularly as adequate regulations regarding electrical safety in rented houses are sadly lacking?
Kris Hopkins
I can reassure the House that the review will consider both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. We will also consider whether landlords should be required to carry out regular checks on electrical installations.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Mike Thornton and Kris Hopkins(11 years, 9 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Kris Hopkins
There are more than 1 million one-bedroom flats on the market at the moment, and the Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that there are more houses out there. Every single penny that we are spending on housing is intended specifically to address that need, to ensure that vulnerable individuals are supported, with £470 million for the homeless and £445 million for transition through welfare reform. We have had to make those difficult decisions because the previous Labour Government failed to do so.
Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) (LD)
13. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the troubled families unit since its creation.