Group 4: Revoking licences (Amendments 56, 58)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:12 pm on 19 March 2019.

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Photo of David Melding David Melding Conservative 5:12, 19 March 2019

Again, I have a lot of sympathy with Leanne's position here, but I will not be supporting this amendment. As I said at Stage 2, in Wales, we're in a unique position to have Rent Smart Wales in place, and the Welsh Government pushed and promoted this body to be transformative in the private rented sector. One of my later amendments—amendment 45 in group 11, which Plaid Cymru supported at stage 2—provides that Rent Smart Wales will be notified when a fixed-penalty notice has been issued. Another one of my amendments at Stage 2 promoted the idea that Rent Smart Wales should be able to issue fixed-penalty notices—something that the Government has now adopted. Rent Smart Wales will be notified of any rogue landlord activity, and I think that, as the lead authority in the private rented sector, it will be best placed to determine whether a licence is in need of revoking. Otherwise, what point is it being there? If my amendments pass, I think that Rent Smart Wales will be gaining a significant amount of responsibility, and this area of legislation will improve, removing the need for the amendments proposed in this group.