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Written question asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party) on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. It was answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 July 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Private Rented Housing: Vetting

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to limiting the amount of data that (1) guardian companies, and (2) tenancy reference checking agencies, can request from applicants.

Answer

Landlords have tools to assess applicants looking to rent or occupy a property, such as through referencing checks. The Government encourages landlords to make sure that these checks are proportionate. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to determining whether any given tenancy or a licence to occupy a property will be suitable or sustainable.

Through the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, we have taken direct action to make clear that private landlords must stop discriminatory practices against households with children or receiving benefits in the private rented sector. While these measures do not apply to licenses to occupy, the Department continues to monitor trends across the private rented sector and is conducting a robust evaluation of the impact of the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL1268
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Private rented housing Vetting Property guardians
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk