Houses in Multiple Occupation

HC Deb 19 March 2002 vol 382 c236W

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the reason for the delay in the drafting of legislation for the regulation of HMOs. [42229]

Mr. Byers

The Government are committed to introducing a national licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and we consulted on our proposals in 1999. We remain committed to legislating for this at the earliest possible opportunity.

The Government are also currently supporting the Home Energy Conservation Bill promoted by my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Dr. Turner). This Bill would introduce reforms to the current discretionary HMO registration regime, most notably by making it mandatory and providing for a revised definition of an HMO.