Landlords welcome proposals on housing standards

The Bill was originally brought to Parliament in June 2015.

Landlords welcome proposals on housing standards

Labour MP Karen Buck has said she plans to re-introduce her Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill in Parliament tomorrow.

The Bill was originally brought to Parliament in June 2015 but was ended and no further progress was made.

It proposed an amendment to the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985 to require that “residential rented accommodation is provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation”.

David Smith (pictured), policy director at the RLA, said: “This Bill reinforces what landlords should already be doing.

“By providing a route to direct tenant enforcement of basic housing standards the Bill will give a further opportunity to deal with the minority of landlords who have no place in the market.

“We look forward to working with Ms Buck as the Bill is developed and considered in Parliament.”

Some of the provisions included rebuilding or reinstating a premise in the case of destruction or damage by an “inevitable accident” and to carry out works and repairs which require the consent of a superior landlord and which “consent has been refused”.

Chris Norris, head of policy, public affairs and research at the National Landlords Association (NLA), commented: “The NLA met with Karen Buck MP in 2015 prior to the introduction of her private members bill and was happy to offer any support we could.

“Assuming that Ms Buck’s new bill sets out to achieve the same goals as her previous attempt, the NLA remains happy to support its passage through Parliament and welcome it onto the statute books.”