Landlords responsible for sub-standard housing could be fined up to $15,000 under legislation tabled for the first time in the House of Assembly on Friday.The Bermuda Housing Amendment Bill extends the Bermuda Housing Act of 1980 to cover structures used for temporary accommodations such as emergency shelters, camp sites and work camps.The Housing Act already encompasses other types of dwellings, deeming whether they are fit for human habitation. Issues such as dampness, lighting, ventilation and cooking and bathing facilities are all covered.The Housing Amendment Bill also allows for fines up to $10,000 to be levied in respect of a first offence under the act and $15,000 plus a prison sentence of up to seven years for a second offence. Landlords face an extra $500 for each day that the offence continues for.The bill was tabled by Minister Without Portfolio Michael Weeks, who could not be reached over the weekend for further comment as to its significance.Ashfield DeVent, the Junior Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, tabled the Consumer Protection Amendment Act 2011, which changes the original Consumer Protection Act of 1999.It provides for an additional category of unfair business practice, an “unconscionable act,” as well as making a number of “housekeeping” amendments.Under the old act, retailers must assess whether a customer is disadvantaged by features such as physical infirmity, ignorance, illiteracy, inability to understand the language of an agreement or similar factors when deciding whether it is unconscionable to make representations to them.The amendment deletes the reference to ignorance, but adds mental disorders and impairments and the age of customers to the list of factors that must be assessed.The new act also makes it an offence for a person to give an estimate or quote in respect of consumer goods or services that they know will be grossly exceeded.And it empowers the courts to order compensation in the cases of convictions under the act, along with exemplary or punitive damages where a consumer is induced into entering an agreement due to an unconscionable act.The Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act amends the Workers’ Compensation Act 1965 to make it applicable to a worker who suffers permanent total incapacity from an injury. Before, it only covered workers who die.It also increases the weekly periodic payments payable in circumstances where a worker is incapacitated to two-thirds of their weekly earnings, thus abolishing the $170 maximum periodical payment available under the original act.Neither Mr DeVent nor Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kim Wilson provided further comment on the Consumer and Workers’ Compensation Act amendments in response to requests.The three bills will be outlined and debated in the House of Assembly when they are read for a second time.