Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Andrew Turner, was one of 312 MPs who voted against a Labour amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill this week.
The amendment sought to impose a new duty on landlords to ensure their properties are ‘fit for habitation’. The amendment was lost by 312 votes to 219.
Turner also a landlord
Mr Turner is also one of 72 MPs who voted against the amendment and are themselves landlords.
Following the vote, Political Scrapbook put together a list of those MPs who’d voted against the amendment and who also derive income (of over £10,000pa) as a landlord.
Turner: Already legislation in place
OnTheWight got in touch with Andrew to ask why he voted against the amendment. He said,
“On the face of it this sounds attractive, but I don’t believe the clause would have amended the existing law in a way which would have achieved the stated objective.
“There is already legislation in place to ensure that rented properties are ‘fit for habitation’ and remain so throughout a tenancy.
“However, I don’t’ believe it should be for landlords themselves to determine what that means.
“It is for local housing authorities to decide on the standards that are required, not those who are renting out properties.”
Image: senoranderson under CC BY 2.0
