Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2023 to Question 192669 on Private Rented Housing: Guarantees, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Renters Reform Bill on family members, acting as a guarantor, who are being pursued for rent payments in the event of the death of a tenant.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Renters (Reform) Bill will generally abolish fixed-term tenancies so that a rental agreement can be ended with 2 months' notice at any point, meaning parties will not be obliged to pay rent for lengthy fixed terms.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate he has made how many families who have been pursued by landlords for rental payments through guarantor schemes following the death of a relative in the last three years.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department does not hold information relating to specific clauses within guarantor agreements. I refer the Hon. Member to the Renters (Reform) Bill that is awaiting second reading in the Commons.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reasons does the Renters Reform Bill not make reference to three-year fixed rental agreements.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
I refer the Hon. Member to my remarks during the debate titled Private Rented Sector: Regulation on 24 May 2023 (Official Report, Volume 733, Column 123WH).
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what analysis they have carried out to assess the impact of recent and forthcoming legislation on the supply of new and existing rental accommodation in the private sector.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The number of rented properties has almost doubled since 2004 – peaking in 2016 and remaining roughly stable since. In fact, the most recent data shows that the number of PRS properties increased by 11,000 in the year to March 2022.
We are committed to robust monitoring and evaluating of the private rented sector reform programme and its impact on the sector. The Renters (Reform) Bill Impact Assessment is currently being scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee and we will publish it during the Bill's passage through Parliament.
We recognise that good landlords play a vital role in providing homes for millions of people across the country. We have designed our reforms to ensure landlords can continue to invest and have confidence in the market.
The government has made a number of interventions to support the Build to Rent sector, boosting housing supply, diversifying the private rental sector, and increasing quality and choice for renters in cities and towns across England.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to incentivise existing and new potential landlords to invest in the supply of private rented accommodation.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The number of rented properties has almost doubled since 2004 – peaking in 2016 and remaining roughly stable since. In fact, the most recent data shows that the number of PRS properties increased by 11,000 in the year to March 2022.
We are committed to robust monitoring and evaluating of the private rented sector reform programme and its impact on the sector. The Renters (Reform) Bill Impact Assessment is currently being scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee and we will publish it during the Bill's passage through Parliament.
We recognise that good landlords play a vital role in providing homes for millions of people across the country. We have designed our reforms to ensure landlords can continue to invest and have confidence in the market.
The government has made a number of interventions to support the Build to Rent sector, boosting housing supply, diversifying the private rental sector, and increasing quality and choice for renters in cities and towns across England.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether it his policy that the power under Clause 5(7) of the Renters (Reform ) Bill will only be used to apply to assured tenancies which are not social housing where the rent of the assured tenancy does not exceed the rent of an equivalent property let in the social housing sector.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Further to the answer given to Question UIN 185473 on 22 May 2023, updated dwelling stock estimates published today continue to show that supply within the private rented sector is roughly stable.
We are continuing to monitor the private rented sector, through sources such as the English Housing Survey and ONS Rental Price Index.
The Renters (Reform) Bill exempts Private Registered Providers of Social Housing (PRPSH) offering assured tenancies of social housing from these changes. These are defined as a ‘relevant low-cost tenancy’. The power allows the Secretary of State to specify a description of other assured tenancies that meet the definition of ‘relevant low-cost tenancy’.
The Bill does not apply to those whose accommodation does not meet the definition of a ‘dwelling’ as defined in housing legislation, such as those who live in caravans. We continue to take a series of measures across the park homes sector and I am happy to discuss our plans further with the Hon member at his convenience.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of clause five of the Renters (Reform) Bill on (a) trends in the level of rent, (b) the difference between changes in market rents and changes in the Consumer Prices Index and (c) the supply of rental properties.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Further to the answer given to Question UIN 185473 on 22 May 2023, updated dwelling stock estimates published today continue to show that supply within the private rented sector is roughly stable.
We are continuing to monitor the private rented sector, through sources such as the English Housing Survey and ONS Rental Price Index.
The Renters (Reform) Bill exempts Private Registered Providers of Social Housing (PRPSH) offering assured tenancies of social housing from these changes. These are defined as a ‘relevant low-cost tenancy’. The power allows the Secretary of State to specify a description of other assured tenancies that meet the definition of ‘relevant low-cost tenancy’.
The Bill does not apply to those whose accommodation does not meet the definition of a ‘dwelling’ as defined in housing legislation, such as those who live in caravans. We continue to take a series of measures across the park homes sector and I am happy to discuss our plans further with the Hon member at his convenience.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reason the Renters (Reform) Bill contains no provisions for renters of mobile homes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Further to the answer given to Question UIN 185473 on 22 May 2023, updated dwelling stock estimates published today continue to show that supply within the private rented sector is roughly stable.
We are continuing to monitor the private rented sector, through sources such as the English Housing Survey and ONS Rental Price Index.
The Renters (Reform) Bill exempts Private Registered Providers of Social Housing (PRPSH) offering assured tenancies of social housing from these changes. These are defined as a ‘relevant low-cost tenancy’. The power allows the Secretary of State to specify a description of other assured tenancies that meet the definition of ‘relevant low-cost tenancy’.
The Bill does not apply to those whose accommodation does not meet the definition of a ‘dwelling’ as defined in housing legislation, such as those who live in caravans. We continue to take a series of measures across the park homes sector and I am happy to discuss our plans further with the Hon member at his convenience.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate his Department has made of the average time taken to regain possession of rental properties via issuing of section 8 notices with antisocial behaviour cited as the reason in each of the last five years.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government will introduce a Renters Reform Bill that will deliver the manifesto commitment to end Section 21 'no fault' evictions. This will support a buoyant private rented sector and continued investment, including from institutional investors. We will publish a full Impact Assessment of our proposed reforms alongside the passage of legislation.
Our proposals on rent increases will avoid rent increases being used as a backdoor method of eviction, and allow both parties to negotiate effectively. Nothing in these proposals will prevent landlords being able to increase rents to market prices.
The Government does not publish data on the average time taken for a Section 13 case to be heard. Decisions on Residential Property Tribunal cases in England, including Section 13 cases, from December 2018 onwards can be found here.
To free up court capacity, we will develop an improved dispute resolution offer for the private rented sector (PRS). This includes improving access to redress through a new PRS Ombudsman and increasing the use of mediation.
We are working with the Ministry of Justice to assess the impacts of our reforms on the justice system. We will ensure it works for landlords and tenants, including through increased use of digital and online technologies.
The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the timeliness of possession cases through the county court, but this is not divided into the grounds for eviction which the landlord has used.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of requiring section 13 notices to be issued for any change in rental rates and the ability of renters to challenge this on the caseload burden of the First Tier Tribunal in England and Wales.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government will introduce a Renters Reform Bill that will deliver the manifesto commitment to end Section 21 'no fault' evictions. This will support a buoyant private rented sector and continued investment, including from institutional investors. We will publish a full Impact Assessment of our proposed reforms alongside the passage of legislation.
Our proposals on rent increases will avoid rent increases being used as a backdoor method of eviction, and allow both parties to negotiate effectively. Nothing in these proposals will prevent landlords being able to increase rents to market prices.
The Government does not publish data on the average time taken for a Section 13 case to be heard. Decisions on Residential Property Tribunal cases in England, including Section 13 cases, from December 2018 onwards can be found here.
To free up court capacity, we will develop an improved dispute resolution offer for the private rented sector (PRS). This includes improving access to redress through a new PRS Ombudsman and increasing the use of mediation.
We are working with the Ministry of Justice to assess the impacts of our reforms on the justice system. We will ensure it works for landlords and tenants, including through increased use of digital and online technologies.
The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the timeliness of possession cases through the county court, but this is not divided into the grounds for eviction which the landlord has used.