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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the best practice guide within the Decent Homes Standard on the number of landlords who furnish their properties using furnished tenancies.

My Department engages actively with registered providers of social housing on all issues facing social housing tenants and with a range of stakeholders on issues facing residents and has engaged with groups such as End Furniture Poverty to understand their research on this issue.

On 2 July, we opened a consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for the social and private rented sectors. It can be found on gov.uk here.

The consultation proposed that government develop best practice guidance for all landlords including information and support where tenants in need can access help on furniture provision.

The consultation has now closed and responses are being analysed. More information about future guidance will be released as part of the government response.

People in need may be able to get support from their local authorities via the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.