Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes in England and Wales, which closed on 8 January 2021; and whether he plans to increase the minimum energy efficiency standards required for (a) rented and (b) leased non-residential buildings.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We will require private landlords to make improvements to their properties by 2030. Ensuring warmer, healthier private rented homes will lift many families out of fuel poverty and reduce energy bills. We will consider the evidence gathered as part of the 2020 consultation as we design the policy around increased Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.

The Government is committed to decarbonising non domestic buildings and is exploring the most appropriate way to do so, including through Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards where evidence gathered as part of the 2019 and 2021 consultations will continue to inform policy development.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how long it will take to change relevant legal forms and provide training to the judiciary and court staff on the system that replaces section 21 repossessions.

Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The system to process possession claims when section 21 is abolished already exists for claims under Section 8 grounds of the Housing Act 1988 and the Civil Procedure Rules.

There will be some form changes to remove the Section 21 process. Any changes required will be made by the relevant Procedure Rule Committee once the details of the new legislation are confirmed. Guidance materials for court staff will also be updated accordingly. Judicial training is the responsibility of the Lady Chief Justice and the Judicial College and will be considered as part of wider implementation plans.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of requests for payment of several months rent in advance before securing a tenancy on the ability of people to find housing in the private rented sector.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are currently monitoring the practice of landlords charging rent in advance to understand the impacts on tenants and will take action if necessary.

The Government is committed to redressing the balance between landlord and tenant. The Renters’ Rights Bill will provide tenants with greater protections against unreasonable within-tenancy rent increases and put an end to rental bidding wars which unfairly pits tenants against each other.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of her proposed regulatory changes on the private rented sector in relation to (a) the level of rents for new tenancies and (b) the supply of homes available on the market for private rent.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

An impact assessment for the regulatory changes proposed in the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill will be published in the usual way.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on build to rent; and what assessment she has made of the impact of her policies on private rented sector regulation on future investment in the build to rent sector.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is supportive of the Build to Rent sector and wants it to grow further. We do not expect our forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill to have a destabilising effect on the rental market and will continue to work with good landlords and their representative associations throughout implementation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals on renters’ rights.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to amend the guidance by her Department entitled Selective licensing in the private rented sector: a guide for local authorities, published on 20 June 2023.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The non-statutory guidance in question is currently up to date. The Government will update it should we decide to make any changes to the use of selective licensing.

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 make an assessment of the implications for her policies of recent trends in the number of Section 21 notices that have been issued in (a) the UK, (b) the North West and (c) Runcorn and Helsby Constituency.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Figures relating to Section 21 eviction proceedings in individual constituencies in England are not held by the department, but we know that chronic insecurity in the private rented sector in the North West have real-life consequences for individuals and families. Tenants across England will benefit from the measures in the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill, including the abolition of Section 21 evictions.

Housing policy is devolved in Scotland and Wales.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Renter's Rights Bill, what guidance she plans to issue landlords on ensuring tenants obtain insurance against damage by a pet.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government will issue appropriate guidance to landlords and tenants to ensure they understand how to comply with the forthcoming legislation in question in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to help ensure landlords do not leave the rental market.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government values the contribution made by responsible landlords who provide quality homes to their tenants and believes they must enjoy robust grounds for possession where there is good reason to take their property back.

However, we are determined to level decisively the playing field between landlords and private tenants by providing the latter with greater security, rights and protections and cracking down on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against renters.

We do not expect our forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill to have a destabilising effect on the rental market and will continue to work with good landlords and their representative associations throughout implementation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time has been for county courts to (a) accept, (b) consider, (c) process and (d) enforce possession cases brought by residential private landlords via Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 in the last 12 months.

Answered by Heidi Alexander - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Statistics on the timeliness of possession claims are published here: Mortgage and landlord possession statistics: April to June 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Data is published covering the period to June 2024.

The Government has announced its intention to legislate to abolish Section 21 repossessions. Once Section 21 repossessions are no longer available for landlords to use, the County Court will continue to work to the procedures and timelines set out in the Civil Procedure Rules for the management of possession claims including enforcement brought under other grounds.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an estimate of the average time it would take for county courts to (a) accept, (b) consider, (c) process and (d) enforce possession cases brought by residential private landlords once Section 21 repossessions end.

Answered by Heidi Alexander - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Statistics on the timeliness of possession claims are published here: Mortgage and landlord possession statistics: April to June 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Data is published covering the period to June 2024.

The Government has announced its intention to legislate to abolish Section 21 repossessions. Once Section 21 repossessions are no longer available for landlords to use, the County Court will continue to work to the procedures and timelines set out in the Civil Procedure Rules for the management of possession claims including enforcement brought under other grounds.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to enable local authorities to bring in rent controls for people in the private rented sector.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government does not support the introduction of rent controls. We have made clear that we intend to use the Renters’ Rights Bill to provide tenants with greater protections against unreasonable within-tenancy rent increases.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to prevent bidding wars in the private rented sector; and when she plans to bring forward the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to bring forward a Renters’ Rights Bill as a priority. The Bill will decisively level the playing field between landlord and tenant by providing renters with greater security, rights and protections and we will crack down on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against tenants.

The Bill will introduce new laws that will prohibit the practice of rental bidding, which unfairly pit tenants against one another.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to prevent private rented landlords from seeking rents above the advertised price.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to bring forward a Renters’ Rights Bill as a priority. The Bill will decisively level the playing field between landlord and tenant by providing renters with greater security, rights and protections and we will crack down on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against tenants.

The Bill will introduce new laws that will prohibit the practice of rental bidding, which unfairly pit tenants against one another.

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 make an estimate of the average increase in rent for private properties in High Peak constituency in the last 12 months; and what assessment she has made of the affordability of rent increases for people on average earnings in High Peak constituency.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has made clear that we intend to use the Renters’ Rights Bill to provide tenants with greater protections against unreasonable within-tenancy rent increases.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on the average increase in rent. Private rents across the UK increased by 8.6% in the 12 months to June 2024 (provisional estimate), down from 8.7% in the 12 months to May 2024. The average monthly private rent in High Peak was £850 in June 2024. This was an increase from £780 in June 2023, a 8.9% rise.

The Government appreciates that housing costs are likely a households highest monthly expense. In 2022-23, housing costs took an average of 37% of private tenants’ income, in comparison to 32% for social renters and 18% for owner occupiers.