MP calls for help for Shropshire landlord owed £10,000 after tenant 'scarpered'

Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski spoke on behalf of his constituent Jan Childs in a debate on the Renters (Reform) Bill which passed its second reading on the way to becoming law on Monday.

Mr Kawczynski said: "My constituent Jan Childs rented a property in Much Wenlock to an individual she got into a dispute with.

"He has now scarpered, owing my constituent £10,000, and nobody seems to be interested in helping her to retrieve the money—neither the police nor the local authorities. How will this Bill help my constituent Jan Childs to retrieve her £10,000?"

Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, asked Mr Kawczynski to write to him with more details.

He said: "It is not so much this Bill; it is more the steps that we are taking in order to improve the justice system that will help, but I would be grateful if my hon. Friend would write to me about that particular situation.

"It is always the case, no matter how well framed any piece of legislation might be, that if we are dealing with unscrupulous characters who seek to evade justice, we have to rely on the agencies of the criminal justice system to pursue them."