HoC Copyright: HoC

The Housing Minister, Heather Wheeler, restates the government's support for the Bill, saying that everyone deserves a "decent and safe place to live".

She says the government wants to support good landlord and avoid further regulation but it recognises there are a small number of "criminal, rogue landlords".

She says the procedure in the bill for seeking redress is designed to be straightforward with most tenants able to represent themselves.

And for complex cases, she says, legal aid will be available in certain circumstances.

Calling it "an excellent bill" she has "every confidence" that it will continue as it approaches the committee stage.