Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The purpose of the inquiry is to scrutinise the Government’s proposals for reforming the private rented sector as set out in its White Paper, A Fairer Private Rented Sector .
19
Recommendations
11
Conclusions
1
Report
2
Oral sessions
14
Letters
2
Events
Activity timeline 20 events
20 Oct
2023
2023
11 Jul
2023
2023
13 Jun
2023
2023
13 Jun
2023
2023
6 Jun
2023
2023
26 May
2023
2023
23 May
2023
2023
18 Apr
2023
2023
7 Mar
2023
2023
9 Feb
2023
2023
Report published
7 Feb
2023
2023
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
7 Nov 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral evidence
Charlotte Spencer · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Councillor Ben Fitter-Harding · Canterbury City Council
Councillor Ian Corkin · Cherwell District Council
Felicity Buchan · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
5 Sep 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral evidence
Ben Beadle · National Residential Landlords' Association
Ben Beadle · National Residential Landlords Association
Councillor Darren Rodwell · Local Government Association
Councillor Matt Noble · Westminster Council
Councillor Tom Renhard · Bristol Council
Eloise Shepherd · London Councils
Nikita Quarshie · Shelter
The Baroness Kennedy of Cradley · Generation Rent
Theo Plowman · British Property Federation
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fifth Report - Reforming the Private Rented Sector | HC 624 | 9 Feb 2023 | 30 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
10
Conclusion
Rejected
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
We are concerned that detached private rented homes with a floor space under 50 square...
We are concerned that detached private rented homes with a floor space under 50 square metres are exempt from the MEES, although it is unclear how many homes fall into this category.
Government Response
The government has scrapped proposals to require landlords to meet EPC C from 2025 in their private rented properties; landlords can still take advantage of government-backed schemes to improve energy efficiency but at a time that suits them.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
11
Recommendation
Rejected
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
Given the importance of the MEES to the Government’s net zero strategy, not to mention...
Given the importance of the MEES to the Government’s net zero strategy, not to mention the health, cost and other benefits of living in a warm home, we recommend that the MEES be incorporated into criterion D and that the …
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Government Response
The government scrapped proposals to require landlords to meet EPC C from 2025, stating landlords can still use government-backed schemes to improve energy efficiency at a time that suits them.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
24
Conclusion
Rejected
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
Tenants and landlords need access to reliable data on local market rents in comparable properties.
Tenants and landlords need access to reliable data on local market rents in comparable properties. The closest available data appears to be that held by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), which is used to determined local housing allowance rates for …
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Government Response
The government rejects intervening in rent setting and states the First-Tier Tribunal is best placed to resolve disputes, and it will update guidance to support engagement with the Tribunal.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
25
Recommendation
Rejected
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
The Government should assess whether the data held by the VOA could be used to...
The Government should assess whether the data held by the VOA could be used to determine justified rent increases in the PRS. If it concludes that it could, we recommend either that this information be made public so that landlords …
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Government Response
The government rejects intervening in rent setting and states the First-Tier Tribunal is best placed to resolve disputes, and it will update guidance to support engagement with the Tribunal.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
26
Recommendation
Rejected
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
By getting rid of rent review clauses, the Government could be removing a mechanism for...
By getting rid of rent review clauses, the Government could be removing a mechanism for predictable and fair rent rises and replacing it with a system that relies on a resource-intensive and time-consuming appeals process. We recommend Reforming the Private …
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Government Response
The government will not abolish rent review clauses, but states that landlords can increase rents once a year and tenants can challenge this at the First-tier Tribunal if they think it is above market levels. It will not set or steer rent increases.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
29
Recommendation
Rejected
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
The proposal to make it easier for landlords to allow pets by making pet insurance...
The proposal to make it easier for landlords to allow pets by making pet insurance a permitted payment under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 is a sensible and proportionate measure that could make a meaningful difference. On the other hand, …
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Government Response
The government disagrees with abandoning the proposal to strengthen tenants' rights to request to keep a pet, stating landlords can refuse animals if it is reasonable, taking into account factors like the size of the pet and property.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 30 of 19 classified
Accepted
1
Acknowledged
12
Deferred
3
Rejected
6
Total
19 recs + 11 conclusions
Correspondence 14 letters
11 Jul 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 5 July 2023 concerning reforming the private rented sector
Parliament page
13 Jun 2023
To committee
Letter from the British Property Federation to the Chair dated 1 June 2023 concerning the Renters (Reform) Bill
Parliament page
13 Jun 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning dated 12 June 2023 concerning the response to the Committee's report on Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
6 Jun 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 2 June 2023 concerning the Renters (Reform) Bill
Parliament page
26 May 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State dated 25 May 2023 concerning the Renters (Reform) Bill and the private rented sector
Parliament page
23 May 2023
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 17 May 2023 concerning the introduction of the Renters (Reform) Bill
Parliament page
18 Apr 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 6 April 2023 concerning the Government response to the Committee's report on Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
7 Mar 2023
Briefing note from the National Residential Landlord Association to the Committee concerning evidence given before the Committee on 5 September 2022
Parliament page
7 Feb 2023
Note from Ben Beaumont, Barrister, and Robert Ashdown, CPA, dated 8 January 2023, concerning arbitration in the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
7 Feb 2023
To committee
Letter from the Large Agents Representation Group to the Chair dated 2 February 2023 concerning the property portal for the private rented sector
Parliament page
6 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Housing and Homelessness to the Chair dated 30 November 2022 concerning Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
6 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the National Residential Landlords Association to the Chair dated 28 November 2022 concerning the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
12 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the National Residential Landlords Association to the Chair dated 22 September 2022 following up evidence given to the Committee on Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
6 Sep 2022
To committee
Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 4 August 2022 concerning the Committee's inquiry into Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page