Have your say on the private rented housing sector – Assembly committee launches inquiry

The National Assembly for Wales’s Communities and Culture Committee launched an inquiry today (8 October) into the private rented housing sector (PRS) in Wales and is calling for evidence to be submitted from interested parties.

The Committee will examine a number of areas, including whether the sector can be used more effectively to ease pressure on social housing waiting lists and provide accommodation for those unable to buy a home.

It will also examine the potential for more empty homes to be brought back into occupation as rented accommodation and identify other changes that could raise standards within the sector.

Chair of the committee, Sandy Mewies AM, said: “The most recent statistics show that 11 per cent of households in Wales live in the private rented sector.

“While this may appear to be a relatively small proportion of the housing stock, it is higher than those living in local authority or housing association homes and the current economic climate has therefore brought into focus the potential of the sector to meet the housing needs of Wales.

“As a committee, we hope this inquiry will give us a clear idea of how to make the most of the private rented sector, so that it can become an effective tenure of choice.”

Interested parties are invited to submit written evidence to the Clerk to the Committee via email: culture.committee@wales.gov.uk or post: The National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, CF99 1NA, by Friday 10 December 2010.