Member

On Amendment 45, I reassure the House that the Government have no plans to alter the rent in advance measures contained in this Bill. This power, however, allows the Government to respond to any future changes within the private rented sector that may make it necessary to do so. These may include changes of certain types of tenure, or the possible unanticipated introduction of new types of tenancy. Similarly, changes to the supply and demand balance may impact the extent to which affordability is a barrier to entering the private rented sector. In these and any other unanticipated changes to the sector, the full use of this power would enable the Secretary of State to ensure that the general prohibition on rent in advance continues to apply as intended.