Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Julie Elliott and Grant Shapps
Grant Shapps
I can provide a little more information. We expect some tens of millions of pounds to be raised by pay to stay. Those with six-figure incomes will pay a market rent to stay in their homes, and we will use every single penny of the money to build the more affordable housing that the most vulnerable people in society deserve and need.
Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)
Does the £100,000 to which the question refers constitute household or individual income?
Grant Shapps
It constitutes the income of a household consisting of two partners.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Julie Elliott and Grant Shapps
Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)
3. What plans he has for the future regulation of the private rented housing sector.
The Minister for Housing (Grant Shapps)
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her question. It is important that we strike the right balance between tenants and landlords. The current legislative framework, which I have been looking at closely, does exactly that. We therefore have no plans to take forward the previous Government’s ideas about further regulatory measures on this subject.
Julie Elliott
I thank the Minister for that answer. In light of the massive budget cuts announced in the Department, can he assure me that there will be no threat to the measures that the then Government introduced and, indeed, confirm that the Government have no plans to reverse the further powers that Labour has given to councils to introduce local licensing schemes, because in my experience, in my constituency, people want more regulation, not less?
Grant Shapps
In my experience, in my constituency and across the country, people also want a good supply of private rented sector property. Of course, getting that balance right is important. I share the hon. Lady’s concern about the extent to which homes in multiple occupation sometimes become a blight on an area. I confirm that we do not plan to overturn the rules that the previous Government introduced, but we will look at them in more detail.