Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation and Liability for Housing Standards) Bill

Kevin Foster Excerpts

2nd reading: House of Commons
Friday 19th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Allan]

The hon. Gentleman is right: local authorities’ powers are not being enforced, and there is a reason for that. We need to do much more to ensure that local authorities do enforce them.

[Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)]

The hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) said that authorities needed more resources with which to enforce legislation. Torbay Council has used the powers that the Government have given it to levy fines of up to £30,000 in order to increase its housing enforcement team using money from those who abuse their tenants.

[Lucy Allan]

I am delighted to hear that Torbay is using these powers, and I urge my local authority, Telford and Wrekin, to follow its example.