Speeches by Amos.

“Q I was interested to hear the rest of your points. One area that is not regulated in the Act is the regulation of letting agents. Is that something that Acorn would like to see happen? Feel free to expand on your points. Anny Cullum: We would like to see letting agents regulated. Especially with the issues around bidd…”

“Q Of what length? Melanie Leech: Ideally, we would want a year—perhaps six months. On the impact, to answer the Minister’s point, it is not that families cannot stay for as long as they want to. This is a high-quality product—I am talking particularly about the build-to-rent sector. The risk for build-to-rent providers…”

“Q In response to the Minister, you did also mention the corporate sector—but it does not matter. My point is, can you comment on retaining that fixed-term option for the first tenancy in new build premises? Would that deliver some of the incentives that you want to see? Melanie Leech: A minimum tenancy would certainly …”

“Q We covered extending the grounds to more than three sharers in the previous evidence session, and I think everyone knows where I stand on that. If you are right that the biggest effect of the move away from fixed-term tenancies is on investment into the build-to-rent, or corporate, sector that you are talking about, …”

“Q So that would be the control? Victoria Tolmie-Loverseed: Yes.”

“Q So would it be any property where one of the tenants was a full-time student? How would you define that? Victoria Tolmie-Loverseed: The way the Bill is drafted at the moment, they all have to be students for that to apply.”

“Q On that point, how would you define “all student properties” in the Bill? Victoria Tolmie-Loverseed: We think that the definition of a student property in the Bill is fine; it is just the restriction to HMOs, which are three-bedroom properties. We think the definition of the type of property, or the size of the prope…”

“Q I have raised this already, but you seem to be suggesting that to extend the exemption you would have a special student tenancy. Is that right? Could you clarify if you would like to see that in the Bill? If not, if the Government were not willing to create a new tenancy, how would you draw the line in terms of bring…”

“Q You mentioned the planning system earlier. Do you see any risk, because of the perceived unattractiveness of the new system, that there will be an increase in short-term holiday letting? The Liberal Democrats want to see the use class brought forward for holiday lets. Would you support that in terms of controlling it…”

“Q We have the decent homes standard for social housing, and the Bill would introduce it for private housing. That seems to me to leave Ministry of Defence housing in the middle. Can you think of any other categories of housing that would not be covered by the decent homes standard? Liz Davies KC: Currently, Home Office…”

“Q You said earlier that the first-tier tribunal is working better, but did you really answer the question of whether you feel the Bill will increase pressure on the tribunal and the courts, and whether they are ready for it? Have you seen any evidence of an increase in funding, given this impending legislation? Justin …”

“rose—”

“It was about retaining the option of fixed-term tenancies to two or three years if it were agreed between landlord and tenant. Tarun Bhakta: No, we would not support that at all. It is an illusion that a fixed-term tenancy is a mutual agreement between tenant and landlord. Tenants expect that that is what they have to …”

“Q I have two very brief questions. You will have heard the previous witnesses. Have you seen any evidence of an increase in section 21 evictions since the introduction of the Bill? You will have heard the discussion about fixed-term tenancies and whether they should still be available by agreement between landlord and …”

“I am a landlord but only of registered social housing.”

“Will the Minister give way?”

“The right hon. Gentleman espouses the benefits of cross-party working in an interesting way. Whatever adjustments are made to the earnings limit, will he join those on the Liberal Democrat Benches in asking the Minister to allow a higher level of earnings? That is the crucial factor that prevents so many people who bad…”

“Will the Minister give way?”

“I mainly want to talk about dentistry, but first let me support the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Glastonbury and Somerton (Sarah Dyke). GPs in my constituency are leaving at an alarming rate, which is a problem of great concern across Somerset. We have heard about the Sahara desert; if Norfolk is the easte…”

“Will the Minister give way?”