Cost of living and the private rented sector

The Housing Minister, Rachel Maclean MP, responded to the debate on behalf of the Government. She addressed the Government’s current policy agenda and future ambitions related to the debate topic.  

Watch or read her full speech for details on a range of topics including:     

• The recent Renters (Reform) Bill, which, among other reforms, will abolish section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and enable a shift to periodic tenancies  
• The Government’s commitment to building 300,000 homes a year  
• The Affordable Homes Programme, which is investing £11.5 billion to deliver affordable homes to rent and buy  
• The Levelling-up Home Building Fund, which provides finance to small and medium-sized enterprises, developers and housebuilders to build homes  
• Discretionary Housing Payment funding for local authorities, providing financial support to help with rent and housing costs 
• Local Housing Allowance 
• Means-tested Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024 of up to £900.    

How your contributions are shared

In these exercises, members of the public who have signed relevant petitions or are subscribed to parliamentary newsletters are invited to share their experiences and ideas.

These are passed on to the MP leading the debate, who may refer to them directly in their speeches.

Find other petitions on the Petitions website

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What happens next?

If you shared your email in the survey, we’ll send you an update after the debate with links to watch it, read the transcript, and information about the Government's response.

Lisa, Ian and Charlotte contributed to previous debates on topics like the menopause and pensions advice:

What is a Westminster Hall Debate?

Westminster Hall debates take place in the Grand Committee Room in the House of Commons.

They give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. 

Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.  This means that Westminster debates don’t end in a vote on a particular action or decision.

How Parliament works: Westminster Hall debates.

Relevant research from the House of Commons Library

• Private rented housing: the rent control debate (October 2022)
• Housing and the cost of living (December 2022)
• Housing conditions in the private rented sector (England) (December 2022)
• Renters (Reform) Bill 2022-23 (May 2023)

Relevant committee inquiries

• Levelling-up, Housing and Communities Committee: Reforming the Private Rented Sector (July 2022)
• Public Accounts Committee: Regulation of private renting (December 2021)

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