Private Rented Sector

Andy Sawford Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Jack Dromey]

A national register of landlords will not in itself solve the problems we face, but it could make a significant contribution. I will address that in greater detail later.

Never has action been more badly needed than now. Millions of families up and down the country are living through the biggest squeeze on living standards in a generation.

[Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op)]

Will my hon. Friend give way?

[Jack Dromey]

I want to make some progress, but I will gladly give way later.

Families are reeling from the latest waves of energy price hikes and facing ever-greater bills to renew their rail season tickets, and now millions face living in the most insecure of all housing tenures—the private rented sector.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jack Dromey]

I welcome the hon. Member’s support, which I presume will read across into supporting the Opposition motion before the House today.

Regulating letting agents would protect tenants and landlords, and raise the reputation of an industry that Which? recently ranked second from bottom across 50 consumer markets. The Opposition hope that the Government will support the proposals and back our motion today, not least because the proposals have the support of the entire sector—the Association of Residential Letting Agents, the National Landlords Association and the British Property Federation. We also hope that the Government will recognise that the private rented sector simply does not provide the 1 million families with children, and other tenants in the sector, with the stability and security they need.

[Andy Sawford]

Is my right hon. Friend aware of a recent study by Crisis which shows that instability is a growing problem because of the Government’s cuts to housing benefit? It showed that three quarters of people are finding it much more difficult to find affordable accommodation, and there is a particular problem in Corby and east Northamptonshire—and across the country—for under-35-year-olds on the shared accommodation rate.

[Jack Dromey]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right and there will be an increasingly serious impact on many people in our constituencies as a result of the Government’s benefit and welfare changes.