A Conservative MP thinks a proposed law updating rules for landlords saying they need to make homes ‘fit for human habitation’ is not needed.
Philip Davies, who derives an income from renting out property, said the new bill proposed by a Labour MP would put “a huge burden on landlords”.
“My contention would be … I don’t think this particular bill is necessary to achieve what I would like to see,” he said during a debate on the proposed Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill.
“[It’s] as if [landlords] have nothing else to do but wade through legislation generated by this House.
“The overwhelming majority of landlords, and I will put myself in this category, want to do the right thing and wouldn’t ever dream of renting out a property that isn’t in a fit state to be rented out and want to comply with every regulation that’s introduced.”
Mr Davies described himself as an “accidental landlord” and said most landlords only had one or a few properties, rather than managing many.
He said he was also a tenant in a property and so had a unique perspective on both sides of the argument.
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill was introduced by Labour MP Karen Buck and is on its second reading.
The Bill updates a law introduced in the 19th century that requires homes under a certain rent limit to be “fit for human habitation”.
That rent limit has not been updated since 1957, however, and currently applies to all properties with an annual rent of below £80 in London and £52 elsewhere.
The weekly average weekly rent in London is currently £362.
“There has been some surprise since I introduced this bill that homes could be let that were not fit for human habitation, but extraordinarily, this is in the year 2015, the case,” said Ms Buck.
“Many of Britain’s 9 million renters are well-served by their landlords but for the significant minority who are not there is a long overdue need to strength the law, to give improved redress for tenants living in poor conditions.”
Research by the charity Citizens Advice published in May found that tenants in the private sector spend £5.6bn in rent every year to live in homes that can make them sick or kill them.
An inquiry by the charity found 740,000 privately rented homes across England contain serious risks to health including severe damp, rat infestations, and risks of explosion.