Private Rented Sector

Andy Slaughter Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Jack Dromey]

Again, I will come to that point later.

We must move progressively towards more affordable and predictable rents, while recognising that moving to longer-term tenancies is better for the landlord, who has a secure income stream, and better for the tenants, because the evidence is that they pay considerably less.

[Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab)]

Because of benefit caps, including housing benefit caps, almost 1,500 families in my constituency are being forced out of properties in Hammersmith and Fulham. In talking about displacement into the private sector, will my hon. Friend also address the condition of these properties? If the Government are going ahead with their misguided plan to force people out of social housing and out of London in this way, they at least have a duty to see that the condition of the properties they are moving into makes them fit for habitation.