To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of (a) discretionary and (b) mandatory licensing of houses of multiple occupation on the (i) buy-to-let and (ii) housing market. (141798)

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) was commissioned to undertake a baseline survey on Houses in Multiple Occupation prior to licensing. This will be published shortly. BRE have also been commissioned to conduct a follow up study on the practical implication, effectiveness and impact of mandatory and discretionary licensing and this research is due to commence in early 2008.