Julie James: I think I set out our position pretty clearly in my opening remarks. Just to reiterate, amendment 42 represents a sensible and proportionate amendment addressing concerns about sharp practices at the point a holding deposit is taken. Our other amendments are technical, to clarify how holding deposits should be treated. I won't reiterate them, Deputy Presiding Officer. Unfortunately, I remain...
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I've listened to concerns raised by Members and stakeholders regarding the need to make provision to prevent the charging of excessive or unreasonable charges in the event of a default. In particular, I'm aware of evidence provided of sharp practice in relation to daily charges for late rent payments, leading to significant debts being incurred by tenants....
Julie James: I agree with the concern that Leanne Wood expresses—I agree with it, but we think that our amendments put a better regime in place, subject to the affirmative procedure of the Assembly, to ensure that we have a complete list of default fees that are prohibited, which can be updated as time goes by and which can take into account all other issues that arise. So, for example, the Tenant Fees...
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Our review of the Bill brought into focus some of the drafting around the regulation-making power to vary the meaning of 'permitted variation' of rent in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1. A permitted variation in relation to rent payable under a standard occupation contract means a variation agreed between the landlord and contract holder; variation made pursuant to a term of...
Julie James: Whilst I need to say that, obviously, I recognise the strength of the arguments made by David Melding and his constant championing of the scrutiny role of the Assembly in terms of the enhanced level of scrutiny for these particular regulations, as I set out in my introduction speech, because of the narrow nature of the regulation-making power, amending the permitted payments and fixed-penalty...
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Minister, amendment 41.
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Amendments 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20 have been made in response to recommendation 3 from the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee. The amendments provide a licensing authority designated under Part 1 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014—if that authority is not a local authority—with powers to enforce the Bill. The powers are equivalent to...
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: Formally.