Clause 54 - Tests as to suitability for multiple occupation
Housing Bill
3:30 pm
Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
Amendments Nos. 269 and 270 define the tests as to suitability for multiple occupation more precisely. They identify health and safety considerations—which are at the heart of the purpose of parts 1 and 2—at the very core of the clause. Amendment No. 270 returns us to fire, as it specifically adds the standard of susceptibility to fire hazards to subsection (4).
In our consideration of part 1, we discussed hazard and risk of fire in relation to health and safety. In our discussion of part 2, it is important to be mindful that the licensing regime should be consistent with our considerations in Committee and the way in which the Bill reflects those subjects. The more explicit we can be in the Bill, the better. Our amendment is certainly explicit: it relates the tests for susceptibility of multiple occupation specifically to those health and safety issues. Fire has been used on several occasions to justify some of the Government's proper concerns about HMOs and housing standards in general. It would be bizarre if the Minister were to reject an amendment that makes large and specifically addresses the very concerns that he has highlighted.
The amendments are helpful and entirely consistent with the purpose of part 2, and on that basis I would be amazed if the Minister were to resist them.