The housing crisis and its damaging consequences is consistently the top issue in my casework inbox and tackling it is a personal passion so I am pleased that the Government shares my view that it should lead our agenda for positive change.   

During 14 years of rudderless government, the Conservatives flatly failed to tackle Britain’s housing emergency.

In what is a hallmark of their tenure, they chose to cave in to internal party pressure and turn a blind eye to the desperate housing situations that millions of people have found themselves in as a result of their inaction.

When Keir Starmer pledged to put the country first in every government decision this was not just a sound bite, and I am delighted to see another example of us making good on this promise with the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill last week.

The Bill will level the playing field between landlords and tenants by abolishing no-fault evictions, ending rental bidding wars, and banning landlords from putting mid-tenancy rent increase into contracts.

Eleven million renters will have greater rights and protections with our proposals to outlaw unscrupulous landlords discriminating against tenants who have children or receive benefits.

We will also apply ‘Awaab’s Law’ so that landlords must ensure that their housing is safe, which will make a huge difference for many of my constituents who have been forced to tolerate unacceptable hazards such as mould and damp.  

But these reforms are not just about tenancy contracts and bricks and mortar. For too long many people have not had peace of mind to settle and build lives in the communities that they rent in.

This Bill will give people the security they need to think longer term and plan for their futures without the fear of shock eviction notices and unaffordable hikes in rent. As an animal lover, it was great to see that our proposals will also support renters who own pets.

Closing the Conservatives’ chapter of renter exploitation is one part of Labour’s plan to tackle the housing crisis, which is essential if we are going to achieve our first mission to kickstart economic growth and make people better off in every corner of the country.

The Government is also working hard to get Britain building again and help people fulfil the dream of home ownership, which we will achieve by fixing the broken planning system and creating the skilled jobs needed to deliver 1.5 million new homes and key supporting local services and infrastructure over the next Parliament.

Yes we inherited a mess from the Conservatives, but we’re focussed on putting this right and I know our progress on housing alone will deliver real benefits for many constituents.

Andrew Western is the MP for Stretford and Urmston.