Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to provide for local authorities to be placed in special measures if they fail to meet the legal deadlines set by the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 to fix severe damp and mould issues raised by their council tenants.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Awaab’s Law forms part of social tenancy agreements, meaning social landlords are legally required to comply with its requirements. Where landlords fail to meet those requirements, tenants can seek redress through the courts for breach of contract. If the court finds a landlord in breach, it may order the landlord to remedy the issue and/or pay compensation. Tenants may also pursue complaints through their landlord’s complaints process and subsequently through the Housing Ombudsman Service.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of mould fogging, including the longevity of the results; and what guidance her Department provides on whether such treatments fulfil a landlord's obligation under the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 to make properties with damp and mould safe for their tenants.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Awaab’s Law came into force in the social rented sector on 27 October 2025. As a result, all social landlords must repair all emergency hazards within 24 hours and fix dangerous damp and mould within fixed timescales.
It is for individual landlords to determine the most appropriate course of action to make a property safe, taking account of the circumstances in each case and ensuring they are fulfilling their legal obligations.
Awaab’s Law guidance for social landlords can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of introducing legislation to make solar panel installation on new build homes compulsory.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Renewable energy, such as that generated from rooftop solar panels, will make a significant contribution to achieving net zero. In June 2022 an uplift to the energy efficiency standards for new buildings came into force and we will consult this year on the Future Homes Standard. The standards are performance based, meaning we do not mandate any particular technologies, but we expect that in order to comply with the uplift most developers will choose to install solar panels on new homes.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reasons does the Renters Reform Bill not make reference to three-year fixed rental agreements.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
I refer the Hon. Member to my remarks during the debate titled Private Rented Sector: Regulation on 24 May 2023 (Official Report, Volume 733, Column 123WH).
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many officials his Department employs to work directly on public service innovation.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Innovation is at the heart of our vision for a modern civil service, in particular finding new ways to solve problems and improve people’s lives, and seizing the full potential of data and technology.
All officials are expected to contribute to public service innovation, whether through the policy they develop or in the services they deliver. This work can range from supporting continuous improvement to leading more radical transformation.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of landlords not being able to issue two months' notice to tenants as a result of legislative change on (a) small student lets and (b) HMOs housing students.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The department will publish a full Impact Assessment alongside legislation.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reason certain concessionary identity cards will be accepted as identification for the purpose of voting in future elections whilst others will not.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 180947 on the 20th April 2023.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the costs of administering the voter ID requirements for elections will be paid from council budgets or Government funding.
Answered by Lee Rowley
In line with longstanding government policy, new burdens funding has been provided to local authorities to clear additional costs as a result of these changes.
Electoral fraud undermines the fundamental right to vote in free and fair elections. Photographic voter identification has operated successfully in Northern Ireland since 2003 when introduced by the last Labour Government.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate he has made of when the Independent Faith Engagement Review will be published.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Announcements will be made in the usual way.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential financial impact of the potential removal of the Homes for Ukraine scheme tariff on Bristol City Council.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
We have provided funding per arrival to councils to enable them to provide support to individuals and families. This is un-ringfenced, which allows councils to use the funding as best suits the local area, including measures to support guests during and post the initial six months of sponsorship.