Local authorities questioned on private rented sector
15 February 2018
The Communities and Local Government Committee hears from local authorities and representative bodies on the private rented sector and draft Tenant Fees Bill.
- Watch Parliament TV: Private rented sector
- Inquiry: Private rented sector
- Communities and Local Government Committee
Pre-legislative scrutiny of proposed ban on letting fees
The Committee will also use the session to continue its pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed ban on letting fees imposed on tenants.
The PRS inquiry is focusing on the role of councils in the provision and regulation of private rented accommodation while the Committee is examining the Government's draft Tenant Fees Bill ahead of its passage through Parliament.
Witnesses from the local authorities are likely to be asked about the power of councils to intervene in the private rented sector, the merits of licensing schemes and alternative approaches to intervention, and also whether the draft Tenant Fees Bills gives trading standards sufficient enforcement powers.
The second panel, made up of witnesses from the Chartered Institute of Housing, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and Chartered Trading Standards Institute, will also be questioned on the powers of local authorities to intervene as well as the scale of the problem of low standards in the private rented sector.
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
Wednesday 21 February, Committee room 15, Palace of Westminster
Panel 1 at 9.30am
- Andy Fisher, Head of Housing, Health and Communities, Boston Borough Council
- Gary Josey, Director of Housing and Communities, Bournemouth Borough Council Councillor Clare Salier, Cabinet Member for Housing, London Borough of Wandsworth
Panel 2 at 10.15am
- Melanie Rees, Head of Policy, Chartered Institute of Housing
- Tamara Sandoul, Policy Manager, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
- Alison Farrar, Lead Officer, Chartered Trading Standards Institute
Further information
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