Committee investigates 'rogue landlords'
8 January 2018
The Communities and Local Government Committee questions academics and charities on whether local authorities have sufficient powers to tackle 'rogue landlords', while also starting its pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed ban on letting fees imposed on tenants.
- Watch Parliament TV: Private Rented Sector/Draft Tenant Fees Bill
- Inquiry: Private Rented Sector
- Inquiry: Draft Tenant Fees Bill inquiry
- Communities and Local Government Committee
Provision and regulation of private rented accommodation
The Private Rented Sector (PRS) inquiry is focusing on the role of councils in the provision and regulation of private rented accommodation while the Committee is also examining the Government's draft Tenant Fees Bill ahead of its passage through Parliament.
The panel will feature academics as well as a representative from housing charity Shelter. Questions during the first part of the meeting on PRS are likely to focus on landlord licensing, incentives for best practice and complaint mechanisms.
Draft Tenant Fees Bill
The second part of the session on the draft Tenant Fees Bill will consider the legislation's impact on tenants, landlords and letting agents and how it can be enforced.
The PRS inquiry is examining barriers to intervention in the private rented sector, whether landlord licensing schemes are promoting higher quality accommodation and the effectiveness of complaint mechanism for tenants.
The draft Tenant Fees Bill was published on 1 November and would prohibit all payments to lettings agents and landlords (aside from rent, security deposits, holding deposits and tenant default fees), cap deposits and introduce new civil and criminal offences for breaching the ban.
Witnesses
Monday 8 January 2018, The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
At 4.30pm
- Dr Julie Rugg, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Housing Policy, University of York
- Kate Webb, Head of Policy, Shelter
- Professor Ian Loveland, The City Law School, University of London
Further information
- Comparing private rented sector policies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- About Parliament: Select committees
- Visiting Parliament: Watch committees
Image: Crown Copyright