Renters (Reform) Bill

Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – in the House of Commons at on 10 July 2023.

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Photo of Christopher Chope Christopher Chope Conservative, Christchurch

What assessment he has made of the implications for his polices of the Regulatory Policy Committee statement on the Renters (Reform) Bill impact assessment, published on 3 July 2023.

Photo of Christopher Chope Christopher Chope Conservative, Christchurch

What a facile answer! Does my right hon. Friend not accept the criticisms of the RPC that the impact assessment is very weak in that it fails to address the impacts of the Bill on competition, innovation and investment, and on landlords who run small businesses and microbusinesses?

Photo of Michael Gove Michael Gove Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

I was very pleased that the impact assessment gave the Bill a green rating. I was particularly pleased that it indicated that the likely additional cost would be £17 a year, and that the benefits—both monetised and non-monetised—would be significantly greater than that. It is a progressive measure, which I hope my hon. Friend will be able to join me in supporting.

Photo of Vicky Foxcroft Vicky Foxcroft Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)

Renters’ reform is important, as is safe housing. Residents of Norfolk House, a block of flats in my Constituency, have suffered burst pipes, dangerous cladding, and sewage and hot water leaks that have ruined multiple flats. Residents have called it a “ticking time bomb” to see whose ceiling will collapse next. Both Galliard, the property developer, and Southern Housing, the housing association, are refusing to address those issues. Will the Minister commit to looking into that case, which has blighted the lives of residents for years?

Photo of Michael Gove Michael Gove Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for raising that, and of course we will. Both the housing association she mentions and the developer she mentions have come to the attention of our Department before, so I am not surprised, but I am disappointed, and we will take action.

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