Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2026 on existing tenants whose fixed-term agreements were close to expiry when the Act came into force and of the potential merits of transitional protections for such tenants; and whether he plans to undertake a review of the financial impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2026.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Impact Assessment for the Renters’ Rights Act can be found here.
My Department continues to monitor trends across the private rented sector and is conducting a robust evaluation of the impact of the Renters' Rights Act. Evaluation reports will be published two and five years after implementation.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of housing support available through Housing Benefit.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Households in receipt of housing support living in the social rented sector have their eligible rent paid in full, unless the level of housing support is reduced because of their income or savings, contributions from non-dependants, or limited by the benefit cap or the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy (RSRS). In Northern Ireland, both the benefit cap and RSRS are mitigated.
In the private rented sector, Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum levels of housing support for households claiming Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. LHA rates are reviewed annually, usually in the Autumn.
At Autumn Budget 2025, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions decided to maintain LHA rates at their current levels for 2026/27. Rent levels were considered alongside other factors, such as welfare priorities and support currently available within the challenging fiscal context.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of local authority staff in England who have responsibility for enforcement action in the private rented sector.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Renters’ Rights Act contains a power for government to require private rented sector enforcement data from local authorities, including the number of full-time equivalent staff responsible for enforcement in the private rented sector.
I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 2020 on 27 May 2026.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to devolve powers to the Mayor of London to limit rent increases in the private rented sector.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has no plans to introduce rent controls in the private rented sector or to devolve powers to the Mayor of London to do so in the capital.
Rent inflation in England has been easing since the end of 2024. Average rents in England increased by 3.5% in the 12 months to April, down from a peak of 9.2% in November 2024. In England, annual rent inflation was lowest in London, at 2.0%.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to introduce a cap on rent increases in the private rented sector.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has no plans to introduce rent controls in the private rented sector or to devolve powers to the Mayor of London to do so in the capital.
Rent inflation in England has been easing since the end of 2024. Average rents in England increased by 3.5% in the 12 months to April, down from a peak of 9.2% in November 2024. In England, annual rent inflation was lowest in London, at 2.0%.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether there has been an increase or decrease in rental properties available in London over the past two years.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The 2024-25 English Housing Survey sets out the most recent data on the size of London’s private rented sector. According to the 2024-25 Survey, the size of private rented housing stock in London has remained stable over the preceding two years with no significant increase or decrease.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a pilot of furnished tenancies as part of the creation of best practice guidance on furniture provision; and whether his Department will meet social landlords with existing furnished tenancy schemes to discuss potential advantages it could bring to the sector.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
People living without essential furniture can access support through their local authority, including via the Household Support Fund until 31 March, and from April, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, to provide discretionary help with essential items such as furniture.
In 2025, the government consulted on proposals to reform the Decent Homes Standard for both the social and private rented sectors. As part of this, we sought views on how furniture provision could be addressed within best practice guidance.
Our response to the consultation was published in January 2026, confirming our commitment to issue guidance relating to furniture provision. The consultation response can be found on gov.uk here.
As we progress work in this area, my Department will continue to engage with a range of stakeholders including tenant organisations, charities and landlords who already provide essential items to tenants in need.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his department has made on the adequacy of the number of local authority staff with responsibility for enforcement action in the private rented sector.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Through the Renters’ Rights Act, the government is strengthening local authorities’ enforcement powers and extending and increasing ring-fenced civil penalties to support a ‘polluter pays’ approach to enforcement of the new tenancy system.
In accordance with the New Burdens Doctrine, we will ensure additional net costs on local authorities resulting from the Act are fully funded. To that end, my Department is providing £41.12 million to local housing authorities for this financial year to help them undertake their new enforcement responsibilities. This funding is in addition to the £18.2 million provided in 2025/26.
Our aim over the long term is to establish a sustainable funding system for private rented sector enforcement based on future Private Rented Sector Database fee revenues. We will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the energy costs of heritage businesses and listed commercial buildings.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department recently engaged with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the proposals to improve the energy performance of buildings, including heritage and listed commercial properties.
The Government consulted on reforms to Energy Performance Certificates and proposes to bring all heritage buildings into scope of EPCs and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards barring other exemptions; as well as proposals to strengthen non-domestic Private Rented Sector Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to EPC B – reducing energy costs for businesses.
The Government recognises the challenges of improving heritage properties. That is why Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards include safeguards such as cost-effectiveness requirements and exemptions where third-party consent is not provided, ensuring a proportionate approach.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, as the Private Rented Sector Database introduced in the Renters' Rights Act 2025 is rolled out regionally, provision has been made for inspections to take place to verify the information provided by landlords.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are working closely with local councils to support them in using the information that will be provided by the Private Rented Sector Database in their enforcement activities. Through guidance we will encourage local councils to verify the information recorded on the Database and carry out enforcement action as appropriate during the regional rollout.
The Database will collect a range of information which will be confirmed through secondary legislation. We are continuing to explore which key performance indicators will help us to assess whether the Database is meeting its objectives.