An outline of powers and responsibilities when dealing with unsightly or derelict housing in England.

An outline of powers and responsibilities when dealing with unsightly or derelict housing in England.

Key data and pressures facing the retail sector in the UK.

Key data and pressures facing the retail sector in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) information his Department has and (b) what research his Department has commissioned on the amount of retail, hospitality and leisure hereditaments or business space which are empty or vacant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) information his Department has and (b) what research his Department has commissioned on the amount of retail, hospitality and leisure hereditaments or business space which are empty or vacant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of ongoing service charges and maintenance fees in age-restricted retirement housing developments after a property becomes vacant on residents and their families; and if he will review protections for...

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of ongoing service charges and maintenance fees in age-restricted retirement housing developments after a property becomes vacant on residents and their families; and if he will review protections for...

My Lords, it is important that we have the confidence of the public in our housing system. For that reason, I wish to test the opinion of the House.

My Lords, it is important that we have the confidence of the public in our housing system. For that reason, I wish to test the opinion of the House.

Tabled by

Baroness O'Neill of Bexley

87: After Clause 18, insert the following new Clause—

“National strategy for management of social housing stock

(1) Within the period of 12 months beginning on the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a strategy for improving the management and utilisation...

Tabled by

Baroness O'Neill of Bexley

87: After Clause 18, insert the following new Clause—

“National strategy for management of social housing stock

(1) Within the period of 12 months beginning on the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a strategy for improving the management and utilisation...

Based on the commitment made earlier by the Minister, I am happy not to move this amendment.

Based on the commitment made earlier by the Minister, I am happy not to move this amendment.

Moved by

Lord Bird

89: After Clause 18, insert the following new Clause—

“Empty dwelling management orders: prescribed period of time

In the Housing (Empty Dwelling Management Orders) (Prescribed Period of Time and Additional Prescribed Requirements) (England) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2625), omit Article 2 (prescribed period of time).”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment seeks to...

Moved by

Lord Bird

89: After Clause 18, insert the following new Clause—

“Empty dwelling management orders: prescribed period of time

In the Housing (Empty Dwelling Management Orders) (Prescribed Period of Time and Additional Prescribed Requirements) (England) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2625), omit Article 2 (prescribed period of time).”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment seeks to...

My Lords, I am very pleased that I am being given the opportunity to speak to these two interesting amendments, Amendments 89 and 90. They are very simple. They are nowhere near what I want to achieve in life, but they are, in a sense, a halt in a becoming....

My Lords, I am very pleased that I am being given the opportunity to speak to these two interesting amendments, Amendments 89 and 90. They are very simple. They are nowhere near what I want to achieve in life, but they are, in a sense, a halt in a becoming....

Order! We cannot hear the noble Lord.

Order! We cannot hear the noble Lord.

Shall I talk louder? The rain in Spain goes mainly down the drain. Sorry. Forgive me. Thank you. You are on my side.

Tony Blair or somebody in his Government had the idea that, if a house was empty for six months, it should be available for the local authority to...

Shall I talk louder? The rain in Spain goes mainly down the drain. Sorry. Forgive me. Thank you. You are on my side.

Tony Blair or somebody in his Government had the idea that, if a house was empty for six months, it should be available for the local authority to...

My Lords, I have tabled Amendment 92, the final amendment, and will be going ahead of my noble friend speaking from the Front Bench. To set it out pretty clearly, I hope that this finds favour with not only the Minister but the renewed Secretary of State, the right honourable...

My Lords, I have tabled Amendment 92, the final amendment, and will be going ahead of my noble friend speaking from the Front Bench. To set it out pretty clearly, I hope that this finds favour with not only the Minister but the renewed Secretary of State, the right honourable...

My Lords, this is a group of interesting and different amendments. Nobody could fail to be moved by the way that the noble Lord, Lord Bird, speaks to us, or to understand and feel his passion. He should not doubt for a minute that we share that; I think we...

My Lords, this is a group of interesting and different amendments. Nobody could fail to be moved by the way that the noble Lord, Lord Bird, speaks to us, or to understand and feel his passion. He should not doubt for a minute that we share that; I think we...

My Lords, I support Amendment 89 and acknowledge the remarkable contribution made by the noble Lord, Lord Bird, to tackling homelessness over many years.

That challenge is particularly acute in rural communities. We know that rural housing is less affordable. Action with Communities in Rural England reports that the average home...

My Lords, I support Amendment 89 and acknowledge the remarkable contribution made by the noble Lord, Lord Bird, to tackling homelessness over many years.

That challenge is particularly acute in rural communities. We know that rural housing is less affordable. Action with Communities in Rural England reports that the average home...

My Lords, we have a new Prime Minister and I worry there may be unfortunate changes, so before I speak to these amendments I place on record that I have thoroughly enjoyed my 18 months with the Minister and sincerely hope I shall enjoy many more months opposite her. As...

My Lords, we have a new Prime Minister and I worry there may be unfortunate changes, so before I speak to these amendments I place on record that I have thoroughly enjoyed my 18 months with the Minister and sincerely hope I shall enjoy many more months opposite her. As...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in this debate: the noble Lords, Lord Bird and Lord Jamieson, the noble Baronesses, Lady Coffey and Lady Thornhill, and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Hereford. Before I respond to the amendments, I want to...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in this debate: the noble Lords, Lord Bird and Lord Jamieson, the noble Baronesses, Lady Coffey and Lady Thornhill, and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Hereford. Before I respond to the amendments, I want to...

We have discussed brownfield many times, and I think that we are both in agreement that that should be the preferred option. The issue that I am seeking to address is that, while we all agree it

should be the preferred option, in reality that is not happening. I use...

We have discussed brownfield many times, and I think that we are both in agreement that that should be the preferred option. The issue that I am seeking to address is that, while we all agree it

should be the preferred option, in reality that is not happening. I use...

I am sure that the noble Lord will understand that I cannot comment on individual planning cases—it would be very unwise to do so from the Dispatch Box. But he will know that there has been, as I said, this recent consultation on the NPPF. It has a different rules-based...

I am sure that the noble Lord will understand that I cannot comment on individual planning cases—it would be very unwise to do so from the Dispatch Box. But he will know that there has been, as I said, this recent consultation on the NPPF. It has a different rules-based...

I will make my final comments. The noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, obviously does not know Peckham, because, if he did, he would know

that the clock tower is very important for the well-being of people in Peckham, as there is not an awful lot to look at. I am sorry—I...

I will make my final comments. The noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, obviously does not know Peckham, because, if he did, he would know

that the clock tower is very important for the well-being of people in Peckham, as there is not an awful lot to look at. I am sorry—I...

Lords report stage. Amendment 83 disagreed to on division (38 to 133). Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (HL Bill 43). (Part 2 of 2).

Lords report stage. Amendment 83 disagreed to on division (38 to 133). Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (HL Bill 43). (Part 2 of 2).