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Written question asked by Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party) on Tuesday, 17 January 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 January 2017. It was answered by Robert Goodwill (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 January 2017 on behalf of the Home Office.

Migrants: Private Rented Housing

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many notices her Department has issued informing a landlord that an occupier is disqualified from renting (a) since and (b) prior to 1 December 2016; how many such notices were issued where that occupier was below the age of 18 in each such period; and what process she follows in carrying out her duties under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 in respect of such notices being issued to a person who is (i) a child and (ii) with a child.

Answer

The residential tenancy measures in the Immigration Act 2016 came into force in England on 1 December 2016. These introduced a new offence for landlords and their agents of knowingly renting to an illegal migrant, and new powers for the Home Office to prosecute for this offence; and also introduced a new route for landlords to evict illegal migrants more quickly.

The Home Office may issue a notice to a landlord informing them that they are letting property to someone who is disqualified from renting; possession of such a notice allows the landlord to access the new eviction route. Landlords may avoid liability for prosecution by taking reasonable steps within a reasonable period of time to end the tenancy.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
60467
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Children Migrants Private rented housing
Legislation
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk