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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce a licencing scheme for landlords in the private housing sector.

The Government is committed to delivering a private rented sector that works for everyone and balances the needs of landlords and tenants. The Government has no current plans to introduce a centrally based licencing scheme for private landlords.

We are working with local authorities to raise standards in the private rented sector. Local authorities must license Houses in Multiple Occupation where five or more people from two or more households share facilities. Local authorities also have the power to license different types of privately rented properties through additional licensing or selective licensing schemes.