At last...all tenants to get justice

But it does not work for anyone living in unsafe or unfit homes.

Labour MP Karen Buck twice proposed a simple legal change forcing landlords to ensure homes were safe and habitable, and twice Tories voted her down.

It’s third time lucky for Karen. On Friday her Bill will come before the Commons and this time the Government will support it.

That change of heart follows the Sunday Mirror last week revealing how the existing law is an ass, condemning three million people to lives of misery.

Landlords have to repair what breaks, but they are under no obligation to deal with damp, mouldy or cold properties, or even those which might be a fire risk.

Grenfell was a tragic testament to the catastrophes that can happen when residents’ safety warnings are not heeded.

Ms Buck’s Bill will change that in both the public and private rented sector.

And Secretary of State for Housing Sajid Javid has seen the light by backing it.

Landlords will no longer be able to get away with murder. They will instead be held accountable for the state their properties are in.

He even provided government lawyers to help Ms Buck make sure there are no loopholes landlords can slip through.

This is taking the politics out of politics and shows how the governance of Britain should work in a perfect world. Politicians of all parties should put the national interest before scoring points off each other.

But the world is not perfect and nor are politicians. We expect this will be a rare example of cross-party common sense. How much better off we would all be if only there was more.