My article in the Huffington Post: Housing standards: It’s time to give Councils the powers to act

At present, many of our Local Authorities are in the strange position of being legally required to do something that they cannot do, and no one seems to mind, not least ministers with whom I have raised this matter. It all seems to a step too far for Government. After all, they don’t have to suffer the misery of poor housing personally.

The law of the land puts the responsibility for dealing

Electrical Safety Campaign to improve safety in the Private Rented Sector

I have been campaigning for improved electrical safety in the private rented sector. Currently landlords are not required to have electrical safety certificates unlike Gas where they are required to be certificated as safe.

The law does state that 'electrical installations are safe at the beginning of any tenancy' under the 1985 Housing and Tenant Act. 

I have visited numerous properties where

I'm backing the Electrical Safety Council's private rented sector proposals

I am backing the Electrical Safety Council's campaign for better regulations to protect tenants from bad landlords in the private rented sector.

I was horrified to read about the young mother electrocuted t death in her bath in front of her young children. The Thirza Whittle case from 2009 is an example - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1198470/

Keep Renting Safe Campaign

I am supporting the Keep Renting Safe Campaign, which has been started by the National Private Tenants Organisation – a group representing the interests of those living in the private rented housing sector.

The campaign calls for compulsory inspections of the electrical installations and appliances supplied to tenants by landlords in all privately rented homes – not just HMOs.

The Electrical