Baroness Coffey (Con)

My Lords, my Amendment 70 is fundamentally to help children. We should recognise that certain changes have made it far more profitable for landlords to change long-term family-home lets to homes in multiple occupation or sometimes, depending on location, to holiday lets. Losing family homes in rural locations from both the private and social housing sectors is a real issue, particularly when one considers that median salaries tend to be considerably lower than in towns and cities. I was inspired to put forward this amendment after a discussion with a landlord in Suffolk about various reforms being considered by this House that would likely reduce the availability of rented accommodation for families, particularly in rural areas. This landlord told me of one change that he would put into law if he had the opportunity—a practice he undertakes himself today—and that is making sure that any changes in tenancy arrangements for properties occupied by families happen only during the school summer holidays. My amendment seeks to ensure that any such eviction could happen only during a school holiday. I understand that it is the Government’s intention to reduce evictions, particularly no-fault evictions; however, they do accept that a landlord may need to require such actions. That said, disruption of a child’s education through absolutely no fault of their own can have a real impact on their life in both the short and long term. For what it is worth, I also think that the situation is more likely to be acute for children living in rural areas. Often, people displaced from accommodation in rural areas end up having to move considerable distances to much more urban conurbations, which would likely require a change of school, whether that be at primary or secondary age. My amendment would at least limit this potential disruption to the child’s life to be only during school holidays, giving parents and the child time to find a new school or to make alternative transport arrangements if necessary. I appreciate that we are still in Committee, so I am floating this idea to consider what we can do to help children in these challenging moments in their family’s life. I would be grateful if I could meet the Minister to discuss this issue further. With that, I beg to move.