Member

On Amendment 29, more fundamentally, the Government have given considerable thought during the passage of the Bill to whether the tribunal is the appropriate body to determine all rent increase challenges. I am particularly grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Wolf, for her constructive engagement on this matter. After careful consideration of the points made by noble Lords, and after reviewing the experience of similar reforms in Scotland, we have concluded that there is a compelling case for the use of an alternative body or mechanism to make initial rent determinations. This would ensure the long-term sustainability of the system, relieving pressure on the tribunal, and has the potential to deliver longer-term savings, contributing to more efficient state delivery.