Philip Davies: ‘fit for human habitation’ law is ‘unnecessary burden’ on landlords
![[Image: Daily Mirror.]](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/141023philip-davies-questionmark.jpg)
[Image: Daily Mirror.]
Late last year, he ‘talked out’ a plan to outlaw ‘revenge’ evictions by private landlords on tenants who – for example – want repairs on the properties they are renting.
Before that, he called for disabled people with jobs to be paid less than the minimum wage. He has also claimed sex education increases teen pregnancy (in fact, research suggests it reduces the phenomenon).
Now he has spoken against another proposal, this time for the law to be updated to require homes under a certain rent limit to be fit for human habitation.
A proposed law that would require landlords to make homes fit for human habitation would be an unnecessary regulatory burden, a Conservative MP has argued.
Philip Davies, who derives an income from renting out property, said the new bill proposed by a Labour MP would put “a huge burden on landlords”.
He said MPs were acting “as if [landlords] have nothing else to do but wade through legislation generated by this house.
“My contention would be … I don’t think this particular bill is necessary to achieve what I would like to see.”
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill was introduced by Labour MP Karen Buck and is on its second reading.
The Bill updates a law introduced in the 19th century that requires homes under a certain rent limit to be “fit for human habitation”.
That rent limit has not been updated since 1957, however, and the rule currently applies to all properties with an annual rent of below £80 in London and £52 elsewhere.
The weekly average weekly rent in London is currently £362 and practically zero properties currently fall under the legislation.
“There has been some surprise since I introduced this bill that homes could be let that were not fit for human habitation, but extraordinarily, this is in the year 2015, the case,” she told MPs.
Research by the charity Citizens Advice published in May found that tenants in the private sector spend £5.6bn in rent every year to live in homes that can make them sick or kill them.
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He displays a true Torie appearance does he not, evil written right across his face, what more can one expect from this inhumane bunch. I truly detest what they stand for rotten to the core.
If this moron were to attempt to speak on this matter as a Councillor in a local authority he would prevented due to a prejudicial interest. Shame on Parliament and the speakers office for calling him to speak when he has a declared, significant financial interest. if I didn’t know better I would suspect him of putting his business interests before the wellbeing of his constituents, allegedly.
Who is this moron and why is he being paid huge amounts of money to voice his ignorance?
Why stop there? Why not remove laws requiring shops to make sure food is fit for human consumption?
We have to move on from the days of landlords living in luxury, whilst their tennants pay through the nose to live in dilapidated buildings. This bill is a step in the right direction.
Greed and guile personified.
I’ve seen this creature on the BBCs Look North. Sleek, with a good suit and smart haircut, he’s your typical provincial tory MP: arrogant, self-possessed with a permanent smirk I’m not surprised by his views. What beats me is that there are still people like him in parliament? What the heck are Shipley conservatives doing selecting somebody like him ion the first place. It makes Shipley look aw though they have an MP representing the Dark ages.
Personally speaking I do not want to rely on the kindness of landlords….
Whatever rocks these reptiles slither out from they certainly seem to easily find their way onto Conservative selection panels and get elected as representatives of the population of this country……NOT in this case…..but he should do well as a potential Her Smit storm trooper recruit.
The figures in the article on the number of homes causing ill health are totally shocking. The fact that families have to put up with these conditions is equally shocking.
No surprise as he is a tory landlord only interested in saving cash.
Come on, Shipley, time for change!
Another loud-mouthed and obnoxious Tory. Someone remind him of the Rachman case of the early 1960s. It seems they will only be happy when they have taken the country back to the 19th century.
It should be made compulsory for people like Philip Davies to be forced to live in home of this nature with all their extended family for at least one month. If they still believe in what they are saying then, they can have their say.
Property owners should all be responsible to keep properties in a good state of repair whether they are lived in or not. Abandoned or poorly maintained property should be taken over by the state and upgraded to help solve the housing crisis.