§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received about the practice of certain private landlords of requiring a tenancy to be terminated when a baby is born to the tenant; what information he has as to how widespread this practice is; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he has any plans to prohibit private landlords from terminating tenancies when a child is born to the tenant; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoMy right hon. Friend has received no such representations. Landlords may obtain possession from an assured tenant to whom a child has been born only if a term of the tenancy agreement has thereby been breached, or if the landlord is otherwise entitled to possession. In either case a court order is necessary and the landlord must satisfy the court that it is reasonable to grant him possession for a breach of the terms of the tenancy. A tenant will therefore be aware of the likelihood that he will not be able to remain after a child is born at the point where he accepts the tenancy. We have no plans to change the law in this respect.