[Mr Clive Betts in the Chair]

I welcome everyone to the first sitting of the Renters’ Rights Bill Committee. We will discuss some procedural matters first. We are now sitting in public and being broadcast. I have a few reminders for Members. Hansard asks you to email your speaking notes please, particularly if you speak according to them—that is even more helpful. Please make sure that electronic devices are on silent. Tea and coffee are not allowed in proceedings; please ensure that all evidence of them is removed from the tables.

Ordered,

That—

1. the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 9.25 am on Tuesday 22 October) meet—

(a) at 2.00 pm on Tuesday 22 October;

(b) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 29 October;

(c) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 31 October;

(d) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 5 November;

(e) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 12 November;

(f) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 14 November;

(g) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 19 November;

(h) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 21 November;

(i) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 26 November;

(j) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 28 November.

2. the Committee shall hear oral evidence in accordance with the following Table:

TABLE

Date

Time

Witness

Tuesday 22 October

Until no later than 10.00 am

The National Residential Landlords Association; The Lettings Industry Council

Until no later than 10.30 am

Shelter; Citizens Advice

Until no later than 11.00 am

The Renters’ Reform Coalition; Generation Rent

Until no later than 11.25 am

The Housing Ombudsman Service

Until no later than 2.40 pm

Justin Bates KC; Giles Peaker; Liz Davies KC

Until no later than 3.00 pm

The Country Land and Business Association

Until no later than 3.20 pm

Indigo House Group

Until no later than 3.40 pm

Unipol

Until no later than 4.20 pm

The British Property Federation; The National Housing Federation; Propertymark

Until no later than 4.50 pm

The Local government Association; The Chartered

Institute of Environmental

Health

Until no later than 5.10 pm

ACORN

Until no later than 5.30 pm

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

3. proceedings on consideration of the Bill in Committee shall be taken in the following order: Clauses 1 to 4; Schedule 1; Clauses 5 to 28; Schedule 2; Clauses 29 to 71; Schedule 3; Clauses 72 to 98; Schedule 4; Clause 99; Schedule 5; Clauses 100 to 143; Schedule 6; Clauses 144 to 146; new Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill;

4. the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5.00 pm on Thursday 28 November. —(

Resolved,

That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication.—(Matthew Pennycook.)

Resolved,

That, at this and any subsequent meeting at which oral evidence is to be heard, the Committee shall sit in private until the witnesses are admitted.—(Matthew Pennycook.)

We now have to sit in private simply to discuss the arrangements for this morning—nothing more—and we will then shortly be back in public with our witnesses.

The Committee deliberated in private.