Licensing is an effective targeted tool delivering improved standards and safety in the private rented sector in specific areas that are suffering from serious problems.<\/p>
In April 2015 further conditions for applying selective licensing were introduced, so local authorities could target defined areas with problems such as deprivation, high crime and poor property.<\/p>
Any scheme submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation will be considered on its merits and whether it meets the statutory requirements in Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-24T15:46:07.147Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Private Rented Housing: Licensing"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of borough-wide licensing schemes in raising standards and improving safety in the private rented sector.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/400", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Healey"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wentworth and Dearne"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John Healey"} ], "uin" : "3654"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749621", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749621/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In 2014 the Government took action to cap repair charges imposed on leaseholders by public sector landlords for government-funded maintenance. In addition, since 2014 all property managing agents in England must belong to one of three approved redress schemes, allowing consumers to follow up complaints and drive up standards with the least regulatory burden. The Government has no plans to regulate leaseholders\u2019 maintenance fees.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-13T15:25:47.537Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Leasehold"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will introduce regulations on the level of maintenance fees borne by leaseholders.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"} ], "uin" : "3660"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749622", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749622/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Where following an inspection of dwelling under the Housing Act 2004, a local authority identifies polystyrene ceiling tiles as being a fire risk, an Improvement Notice can be served requiring their removal. Failure to comply with an Improvement Notice is a criminal offence for which local authorities can impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 and apply for a Rent Repayment Order covering up to 12 month\u2019s rent, or prosecute in the courts which have the power to impose an unlimited fine.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-19T14:14:21.893Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Buildings: Fire Hazards"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2017 to Question 371, whether there is a requirement to remove polystyrene ceiling tiles from older buildings.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "3678"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749319", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/749319/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The immediate priority was to identify the scale of use of Aluminium Composite Material ACM type cladding on buildings over 18 metres. On the advice of the Independent Expert Panel, the Government has now commissioned the Building Research Establishment to test different wall cladding systems using three common types of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) panelling with two commonly used types of insulation. The results will provide further evidence of how some commonly used wall systems using ACM perform in a fire. This evidence will be used to produce further advice to inform building owners\u2019 decisions on whether they need to take any additional action to make their buildings safe.<\/p>