Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the proposed amendments to the Tenant Fees Act 2019 by the Renters (Reform) Bill to include pet insurance as a permitted payment by landlords, what discussions they have had with insurance providers to ensure those charges are affordable.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Officials in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have engaged with a range of stakeholders, including insurance providers, whilst developing the legislation introduced in the Renters (Reform) Bill.
Insurance policies vary in their terms, conditions and charges, and the Government would encourage landlords and tenants to agree on a policy covering pet damage that suits both their needs. It will ultimately be a personal choice for tenants whether they wish to keep a pet and therefore whether they are willing to pay for insurance as a part of their agreement with their landlord.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the proposed amendments to the Tenant Fees Act 2019 by the Renters (Reform) Bill to include pet insurance as a permitted payment by landlords, what support will be provided to pet-owning tenants (1) on low incomes, or (2) who receive benefits, to make those payments.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Officials in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have engaged with a range of stakeholders, including insurance providers, whilst developing the legislation introduced in the Renters (Reform) Bill.
Insurance policies vary in their terms, conditions and charges, and the Government would encourage landlords and tenants to agree on a policy covering pet damage that suits both their needs. It will ultimately be a personal choice for tenants whether they wish to keep a pet and therefore whether they are willing to pay for insurance as a part of their agreement with their landlord.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the A Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector consultation, which ran from 2 September to 14 October.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We are currently analysing and considering the feedback received from the consultation and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the Renters Reform Bill has been delayed; and when it will be published.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government monitors private landlord's intentions to increase or decrease the size of their portfolios within the next two years through the English Private Landlords Survey. The last survey was published in May 2022.
To help vulnerable renters who are facing eviction, in 2022/23 local authorities received £316 million in funding for the Homelessness Prevention Grant. Local authorities can use this funding flexibly to meet their homelessness and rough sleeping strategies - for example, to offer financial support for people to find a new home, to work with landlords to prevent evictions or to provide temporary accommodation, among other preventative measures.
Legislation will be announced in the usual way.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prospects of an increase in evictions of private renters due to their landlord selling the property between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023; and what forecast they have made, if any, of the extent of any such increase.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government monitors private landlord's intentions to increase or decrease the size of their portfolios within the next two years through the English Private Landlords Survey. The last survey was published in May 2022.
To help vulnerable renters who are facing eviction, in 2022/23 local authorities received £316 million in funding for the Homelessness Prevention Grant. Local authorities can use this funding flexibly to meet their homelessness and rough sleeping strategies - for example, to offer financial support for people to find a new home, to work with landlords to prevent evictions or to provide temporary accommodation, among other preventative measures.
Legislation will be announced in the usual way.