Housing: Lettings

Earl of Listowel Excerpts

Monday 26th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sassoon]

My Lords, I cannot quite see what that has to do with the Question. It could take up a lot of time if every time I stood up, I prefaced it by saying that I was speaking on behalf of the coalition Government, but I am happy to do that.

[The Earl of Listowel]

My Lords, will the Minister keep in mind the many families and children living in overcrowded and unpalatable conditions when he considers what might be done to encourage more private landlords to come into this area and to refurbish this housing?

[Lord Sassoon]

My Lords, I absolutely take the point that the noble Earl has made. My understanding is that the gap on decency between owner-occupied and rented accommodation has lessened over recent years—and indeed rented accommodation is now on average more energy efficient—so some progress is being made.