Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove and Portslade)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that private tenants are aware of their rights.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that tenants are aware of their rights and already produces a range information and advice for prospective and existing tenants. In the Housing White Paper 2016, the Government reaffirmed the commitment to improve safeguards in the private rented sector so both tenants and landlords are aware of their rights and responsibilities. To improve the information available, we have created and updated a series of consumer-focused online ‘how to’ guides.
These guides will help educate and empower potential or existing renters, landlords and property agents so they are confident in making informed decisions and know where to go for support. They will help tenants, landlords and property agents to understand their rights and responsibilities by providing a single source of information for rules, regulations and advice. We plan to publish the new and updated guides on Gov.uk shortly.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove and Portslade)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2017 to Question HL1415, when the report of the working group on electrical safety in the private rented sector will be published.
Answered by Lord Sharma
Following Royal Assent of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, a Working Group of relevant experts was established to provide recommendations to Ministers on what, if any, legislative requirements for electrical safety in the private rented sector should be introduced. The Working Group has now concluded and the report and its recommendations are being considered.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove and Portslade)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of charging business rates for properties with solar panels on state schools in England and Wales.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Business rates are based on valuations from the Valuation Office Agency, made independently of ministers, and we do not intervene in their independent assessments. We have put in place a £3.6 billion transitional relief scheme for England to support those rate payers facing increases at the 2017 revaluation. Business rates policy in Wales is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove and Portslade)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many urban transformation centres are planned under the Northern Powerhouse Plan; what the remit of such centres will be; when each such centre will be operational; and how much has been spent and committed on the establishment of such centres to date.
Answered by Andrew Percy
The government has not made any decisions on the N8 proposal to create a network of Urban Transformation Centres. The government will continue to work with the N8 universities to explore their proposals.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove and Portslade)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has for the future of the homelessness prevention grant.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Decisions around locally funded services will be set out in the provisional Local Government Settlement, which we intend to announce before recess.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove and Portslade)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on recipients of the expiry of the Business Rates Reoccupation Relief scheme at the end of March 2016.
Answered by Marcus Jones
The Government is continuing to consider representations, which included business rates reliefs, to inform decisions on reform of the business rates system. The Government has confirmed the review will conclude by the end of the year.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove and Portslade)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on recipients of the expiry of the Small Business Rate Relief scheme at the end of March 2016; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Marcus Jones
The Government is continuing to consider representations, which included business rates reliefs, to inform decisions on reform of the business rates system. The Government has confirmed the review will conclude by the end of the year.