§ Mr. HopkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 will affect tenancy agreements for local authority and housing association tenancies. [100331]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 require that unfair terms should not be used in standard contracts made between sellers or suppliers and consumers. An unfair term will not bind the consumer. The Director General of Fair Trading has a duty to consider complaints about unfair terms and can act to prevent their continued use. The Regulations apply to residential tenancy agreements including those used by local authorities or housing associations with their tenants.