Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the estimated cost to local authorities is of the proposed change to standards for the mandatory licensing of houses of multiple occupation that his Department is consulting on.

Costs in administering and implementing the licensing regime can be funded through fees charged for consideration of applications for the grant of licences. There will, therefore, be no additional financial burdens on local housing authorities as a result of the implementation of the extension of mandatory licensing.