Member

Amendment 233 would add mortgage lenders to the list of bodies to whom the database operator must provide full data access. This information could be used by mortgage lenders to identify and deny finance to rogue and negligent landlords who are seeking a buy-to-let mortgage. Although it is right that mortgage lenders should play a role in driving up standards in the sector, any information made public must be necessary, proportionate and done in compliance with human rights and data-sharing legislation. This amendment would mean that mortgage lenders would be granted access to sensitive database information on a blanket basis, which would be unnecessary and disproportionate. The current list of bodies to which the database operator must give access is deliberately small. They are all public bodies that play a practical role in carrying out enforcement action against a variety of offences. We do not think that providing all information on the database to mortgage lenders is proportionate. I kindly ask that the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, does not press her amendment.