MP seeks to ban cold bedsits from lettings market

An MP has presented his ten minute rule Bill on energy efficiency in bedsits.

The object of the Bill, introduced on Wednesday afternoon by Alan Whitehead (Labour, Southampton Test) is to close the loophole by which landlords with Houses in Multiple Occupation must produce an Energy Performance Certificate if the property has a single letting agreement, but does not have to if the property is let out in several tenancy agreements.

If the Bill gets through, then landlords of bedsits would have to produce EPCs and could face having their properties banned from the lettings market from 2018 if they score poor ratings.

The Bill is due for its second reading on March 1.

In reality, private members’ Bills rarely progress – although there have been some notable exceptions – because of pressures of the parliamentary timetable.

In the case of Whitehead’s Bill, much will depend on whether the Government agrees that this is a loophole that should be closed.