§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to take to ensure that private landlords carry out routine maintenance on properties in their ownership in a satisfactory way.
§ Mr. TrippierSection 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 implies into leases of seven years or less a convenant obliging a landlord to keep in repair the structure of a rented dwelling and certain installations in it. This provision will apply to assured and shorthold tenancies granted under the Housing Bill. The Bill extends section 11 to cover the structure and common parts of buildings containing flats. Also we have tabled amendments to the Bill to strengthen the powers of local authorities to require private landlords to carry out repairs and themselves to carry out the works where the landlord fails to do so and to recover the costs.