MPs have voted in favour of a Bill that hands more power to tenants and will allow them to sue landlords over poor housing, taking it an important step closer to becoming law.
It marks a personal victory for Labour MP Karen Buck, who has twice previously tried to introduce a Private Members Bill on the issue without success.
Following an announcement last weekend from Secretary of State for Housing Sajid Javid, the Government has thrown its weight behind the Bill, increasing its chances of success.
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation and Liability for Housing Standards) Bill was subsequently debated in Parliament today.
MPs voted unanimously to pass the Bill this morning in the House of Commons.
It now moves to the Committee stage, where detailed examination of the Bill takes place.
The Bill seeks to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to require that residential rented accommodation is provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation.
It has the support of some landlords’ groups, including the Residential Landlords Association (RLA).
Earlier this week, RLA vice-chair Douglas Haig told EYE: “Ultimately, if we look sensibly at things, what it is asking for is what most landlords would already expect to be law.
“The concern that landlords are inevitably going to have is that tenants are now going to be able to enforce things themselves. We don’t disagree with this but the last thing we want is stealth action by tenants trying to get compensation from landlords.
‘Good afternoon Mr Smith, it’s Michael from spuriousclaims.com. I’m ringing about your recent car accident?’
’No, not had one’
‘Perhaps it was your wife, sister, cousin half removed?’
’No?’
‘Oh, have you been to the NHS recently…….’
’Do you rent your property?’
‘I do.’
I’m calling about the damp in the property?’
I don’t condone poor living conditions, but I can see this being a gravy boat for these claims management companies’
Cue more landlords exit the sector#section24
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Priceless 🙂
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Christ.
I know they are well meaning, but really?
– As above we will have spurious claims being made by individuals promoted by companies.
So what will happen? – Every property will be immaculate and exceptionally well maintained. This costs money, rent will go up even further.
This government is becoming a joke with the landlord bashing. if you feel that strongly bring back social housing.
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I have to say I don’t recognise the Conservatives as the party they used to be, they are now a mishmash and doing Labour a big favour to win next time around (god help us). Not sure which is worst now, but if Labour get in with a majority this is the tip of an iceberg for Landlords and letting agents.
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I think that RLA members need to reconsider their positions. I thought RLA represented landlords! Will be interesting to see if their membership goes down, once they get to know what their organisation has done to them.
Residential Landlord Association supported new legislation for tenants to prosecute their members.
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During the 2008 and onwards recession buy to let landlords (be it for the long term good of the market or not) stepped in to effectively replace first time buyers and keep the housing market moving along. If this had not been the case the market would have fallen much further, more repossessions, more unemployment would have followed. Since this point Government for some reason have seen fit to continuously punish landlords. When the next recession/housing market crisis hits (and we all know at some point it will), who will step in to replace first time buyers then? Certainly wont be buy to let.
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