Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that student accomodation is fit for habitation.

The Department is committed to raising standards in the private rented sector in England. This includes a large proportion of student accommodation. In October 2018 the department extended the criteria for licensing for houses of multiple occupation to bring a further 170,000 properties into the scope of mandatory licensing.

The Fitness for Human Habitation Act, which came into force on 20 March, will ensure that all homes are fit for human habitation at the start of a tenancy and throughout. This Act complements the existing regulatory framework and the strong powers that we have already given to local authorities to ensure that standards are met.

The department also works closely with Unipol and Universities UK to ensure that purpose-built student accommodation is properly regulated and is underpinned by student accommodation codes.

Student accommodation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved administrations.