To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 20 April 2007, Official Report, column 794W, on housing: surveys, what obligations residents in (a) private housing and (b) social housing are under to allow a property inspection to be undertaken as part of the English House Condition Survey. (141759)

Participation in the English House Condition Survey is entirely voluntary for all householders regardless of their tenure. Addresses are selected at random and householders are contacted through a letter from our contractors, the Office for National Statistics, and invited to take part in both an initial household interview and in the follow-up property inspection.