Clive Betts, the MP for Sheffield South East has put his name forward to remain as Chairman of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, a position he has held since 2010.

He is a familiar figure in the property sector and he has regularly featured in the Neg and been at the centre of many of the big issues in the housing sector.

Back in 2018 he was leading calls to housebuilders to speed up housebuilding, saying they: “maximise their profits rather than addressing the country’s housing need.” He also helped drive through the Tenants’ Fees Bill.

Veteran

More recently he has championed longer tenancies, claiming landlords were being persuaded by letting agents into changing tenants too often.

Clive Betts is probably best known for his unwavering support of the Renter’s Reform Bill and the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.

Expressing his frustration at the Bill’s slow progress, he told the Guardian that the committee was “very angry” when the previous government used concerns about court capacity to explain the delay.

Nominations for the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee MPs must be submitted by 4 pm on 9 September. The ballot is scheduled for 11 September. Betts’ strong track record means he is expected to retain his position.