Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the finding in the report by the National Audit Office, entitled Regulation of private renting, published on 10 December 2021, that an estimated 23 per cent of privately rented homes are classified as non-decent, whether his Department plans to take steps to reduce that proportion.

Latest figures from the English Housing Survey show 12% of privately rented homes contain a category 1 hazard, half the number from 10 years ago, and 21% are non-decent down from 37% in 10 years ago. This is a great improvement but there is more work to be done.

We are committed to tackling the worst issues in the private rented sector – driving up standards, giving tenants greater security and supporting local authorities to crack down on poor practice.

We have strengthened local authorities’ enforcement powers, introducing financial penalties of up to £30,000, extending rent repayment orders and introducing banning orders for the most serious and prolific offenders.

We will bring forward a White Paper later this year to set out a strategic vision for the Private Rented Sector. This will outline how our reforms will deliver a fairer, higher quality and more secure rental market.