RETIRING Bolton South East MP Dr Brian Iddon left Parliament yesterday safe in the knowledge that his last act will have prevented up to 3,000 people a year going through the heartbreak of losing their home.

His Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants) Bill has been given Royal Assent, meaning it is to become law — and was the MP’s final act as Parliament came to an end ahead of next month’s General Election.

It also marked a symbolic end to Dr Iddon’s career as an MP after serving 13 years for Bolton South East.

Dr Iddon, who faced a race against time to get the bill through Parliament due to a shortened session, said: “I am really proud that we have got this on to the Statute Book. It bookends my political career nicely because when I came to Parliament I had been working on housing at Bolton Council for many years so this brings me full circle.

“It will prevent 2-3,000 people from becoming homeless, in most cases without knowing that the property in which they are living is being repossessed by the lender.”

He put the Bill forward after being drawn out first in the Private Members Bill ballot, a yearly opportunity for MPs to get the chance to create a new law.

“I was inundated with requests to put forward various bills when I was selected as number one in the ballot but I felt that this one was one which I wanted to do and I am delighted it has got through.”

The Bill protects tenants when their landlords are repossessed by their lender.

This new law allows judges to delay the repossession of a property by up to two months, to give tenants the time they need to find a new home.

Housing Minister John Healey said: “The Labour Government has been behind this Bill from the start, as it adds to wide range of support we have put in place to prevent repossession and help people keep their home.

“After today, a third of a million more people will no longer be at risk of being evicted at short notice.

Brian has done a great job in leading this Bill through Parliament, and I’ve been glad to be able to give him my full support.”

It is Dr Iddon’s third successful piece of Private Members Legislation having previously introduced The Marine Safety Act in 2003 and the Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation) Bill in 2007.

The Marine Safety Act 2003 ensures that vessels in British Waters are safe and do not cause a risk to themselves or others while the The Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation) Bill gave local authorities better control over pedlars, by preventing them from operating in town centres and restricting them to house to house sales.