§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from which local authorities about extending licensing of houses of multiple occupation. [101052]
§ Mr. MullinManchester City Council, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, and a number of other authorities, mainly in the north-east and north-west of England, have made a variety of proposals for extending licensing, or the power to licence, to other private rented sector housing. The Local Government Association have also suggested that future legislation should be framed to enable licensing to be extended.
§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend licensing of houses of multiple occupation. [101051]
§ Mr. MullinWe are committed to the introduction of mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). While we recognise that there are problems of poor physical and management standards elsewhere in the private rented sector, and are considering whether further measures would be appropriate to deal with these, we have no plans to extend mandatory licensing beyond the HMO sub-sector.