The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, has waded into the shared housing row by accusing David Cameron of “doing favours for the National Landlords Association (NLA) rather than listening to residents’ concerns.” These extraordinary comments came after David Cameron laid a parliamentary motion calling for new shared housing planning permission requirements to be scrapped.

John Denham continued his attack by accusing David Cameron of a “devious misuse of the parliamentary process, apparently at the behest of the National Landlords Association.”

The new law requires planning permission for new shared housing where three or more unrelated people live together. The plans will limit shared housing in many areas affecting not just students, but migrant workers and those who rely of shared housing as an affordable housing option.

However, as the new planning rules are not retrospective they will not alleviate the problems associated with existing shared housing.

David Salusbury, Chairman, NLA, responding to John Denham’s comments, said: “This smacks of electioneering. John Denham has been vociferous in his campaign against shared housing. This law was rushed through Parliament without a chance for debate, excluding MPs from having a say on this ill thought out policy.

“It would have been more honest for John Denham to make the case for this change in Parliament, rather than avoiding debate.

“Government needs to rethink these plans, work with MPs and stakeholders from all sides and come up with better proposals. We want to see more shared housing for people who need it and local authorities directly tackling the problems associated with houses in multiple occupation.”

• A landlord fair is being held at Wakefield Town Hall on 22 April from 10.30am – 3.30pm as part of the Wakefield Responsible Landlords Scheme.

The scheme aims to work with private landlords in the West Yorkshire area to improve standards and increase the number of good quality private properties in the district.

The fair is free and refreshments will be provided. The local council is stressing that it will be of interest to anyone who is currently renting properties or anyone considering becoming a landlord in the Wakefield area.

There will be stands from 23 organisations, including West Yorkshire Fire Service, West Yorkshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive.

There will also be workshops throughout the day, covering housing benefits / local housing allowance; landlord safety checks; solving damp and mould problems; landlord finance.