Proposed housing bill: The private rented sector, licensing of mobile home sites and the twenty year rules.

Shelter is broadly supportive of the modest changes that are proposed to the Landlord Registration Scheme which we hope will provide greater clarity to local authorities. However, we also see the need for the review of registration promised for 2010, to go beyond looking at implementation of the scheme and consider whether it is meeting its original objectives: to drive up standards in the sector and force unscrupulous landlords out of the sector.

Shelter supports the proposals put forward to HMO licensing in principle, but we would like to see evidence from England about whether similar powers have been effective and how frequently the powers are used in practice. Shelter does not support the proposals to deal with overcrowding. We would like to see the issue of overcrowding examined more comprehensively with a range of both legislative and non-legislative solutions considered.

Shelter is happy with many of the proposals made relating to the tenancy regime however we have some detailed comments in relation to landlords recovering possession of abandoned property. Shelter does not think the case for the Court process to be bypassed has been well set out. We do however, feel that this issue merits further discussion.