Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:54 pm on 7 March 2018.
I thank Julie for bringing this debate. Far from actually asking landlords to meet certain requirements reducing the availability of homes, it will only, actually, in my opinion, get rid of bad landlords, because good landlords will want to honour their commitment to their tenants. They will want to look after their investment, and I know an awful lot of good landlords. I equally know tenants who haven't been grateful for that and destroyed those homes, so what we're really talking about here is a balance. I also know an awful lot of bad landlords and very, very poor housing. So, I think by repealing this, by giving some balance back into the system that is clearly not there at the moment, it is the right way forward, and what we will see, I am fairly confident, is really good landlords coming forward with people having the right to a secure home and a secure tenancy that is well maintained, and that, when they ask for a job to be done, they won't be thrown out on the street to the cost of them, their family and also society, because, at the end of the day, those families to have to be housed. They have a right to be housed, and it's the local authority that is picking up that tab.