£100,000 for a bad property MOT!

£100,000 for a bad property MOT!

14:41 PM, 25th November 2019, About 4 years ago 30

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Jeremy Corbyn and John Healey, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary set out plans to put power in the hands of tenants with a new charter of renters’ rights.

Labour will announce a new national ‘property MOT’. This would introduce a legal requirement for landlords to complete an independent annual inspection to ensure homes are up to scratch, with tough fines of up to £100,000 and forced repayment of rent to tenants if landlords let out sub-standard properties or flout the rules.

New research by Labour claims that tenants collectively pay over £10bn a year in rent to landlords letting out sub-standard homes and one in four private rented homes are classed as ‘non-decent’, meaning they are damp, cold, in disrepair or unsafe.

Labour’s private renters’ charter will be based on three key rights:

  1. The right to an affordable rented home: with rents capped at inflation nationally, powers for further controls for areas facing run-away rents and local housing allowance increased to cover the cost of renting;
  2. The right to a secure rented home: with new open-ended tenancies, protecting tenants from unfair eviction;
  3. The right to a decent rented home: with new minimum standards, backed by a new annual property MOT and fresh local enforcement powers.

Jeremy Corbyn, said: “Labour will be on the side of tenants and take on ‘dodgy landlords’ who have been given free rein for too long.

“Real change means taking on those who exploit the housing crisis to charge eye-watering rents for substandard accommodation. Labour will put power in the hands of tenants with our new charter of renters’ rights, a cap on private rents and funding for renters unions to support tenants to organise and defend their right to safe and secure housing.”

 

John Healey, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, said: “The power imbalance in the private rental market is at the heart of our housing crisis, with rents eating up too much of people’s pay, tenants afraid of eviction if they report problems, and families with children forced to uproot their lives at short notice.

“Many landlords provide decent homes that tenants are happy with, but the Conservatives have gifted rogue landlords the freedom to flourish. Labour will put bad landlords out of business.

“Labour will legislate in year one for a new charter of renters’ rights, with open-ended tenancies, new minimum standards and rent controls to make renting more affordable. We will make private renting a better option for all.”


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Comments

angela

16:10 PM, 25th November 2019, About 4 years ago

i have sucked up all the rest of the stuff that has been thrown at us but this puts a tin hat on it, when my tenants move i will be selling, all of my properties are of a very high standard, i would live there, so this is just an insult to me

Reluctant Landlord

17:44 PM, 25th November 2019, About 4 years ago

I'm bloody fuming! There are enough legal powers to go after the dodge LL's as it is but no, hit the good landlords even more with red tape and charge them for it. I have inherited some properties that have always been for rent but these are in awful places. The tenants cause a lot of issues but I'm holding onto these as they are only 1 and 2 bed flats so when the Communist Party take over there will be more of a need for these. There is going to be one almighty gap in rental houses for small families etc though. I see good LL's selling up - I would. Diversify your money elsewhere.

Martin

17:46 PM, 25th November 2019, About 4 years ago

If I got a fine like that I'd have to sell 2 of my properties to pay it.
That will help won't it!

Kathy Evans

18:25 PM, 25th November 2019, About 4 years ago

Yeah, what about the dodgy tenants who abuse the property and make it damp and insanitary because of their lifestyle? Not only can we not get rid of them, but we'll be fined for being bad "mummies" and letting then live they way they choose. And 5 months to get someone out who hasn't been paying rent is really short notice NOT!

Whiteskifreak Surrey

9:55 AM, 26th November 2019, About 4 years ago

Yes, this legislation is an enormous insult for good Lls like us. But who cares. As with licensing - only the good, decent LLs will pay. Those who are letting out the garages without the water, properties which are really substandard will never surface and will always be below the radar. Those who are renters of such properties, paying small money will never report those LLs, purely out of fear. As soon as Labour is in we are selling. Even at loss.

Carol

10:05 AM, 26th November 2019, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 26/11/2019 - 09:55
I assume these standards and inspections will not apply to Social Housing which is generally at a lower standard than the PRS? I have many long term tenants and I was going to wait until they give notice to sell. If Labour get in then they will receive a Section 21 before any of the additional crippling legislation becomes law and bankrupts me.

JamesB

10:12 AM, 26th November 2019, About 4 years ago

And landlords will take that power back and sell up and put more tenants on the streets .. good move labour .. absolute clowns just chasing votes

Dennis Leverett

10:25 AM, 26th November 2019, About 4 years ago

They just don't get it!!!!!! All of them are causing greater problems for tenants without doing anything to resolve the extra homelessness they are going cause and at great cost to Local Authorities. They just totally miss the point, the bad Landlords don't give a monkees and their poor tenants are to scared to speak up. GRRRRRRRRRRR Please will you pompous P***S with no common sense try and understand this and start encouraging us decent Landlords to expand, not decline.

Lee Bailey

10:25 AM, 26th November 2019, About 4 years ago

Well I'll have to increase rents quite dramatically to counter section 24 plus the threatened limit on rent increases. There are better property markets in the world and better investments. I'll be selling my entire portfolio if labour win and I'll be selling half if Tories win.

Whiteskifreak Surrey

10:34 AM, 26th November 2019, About 4 years ago

Just got a message from Barclays FX update - the gap between Conservatives and Labour is narrowing. God help us...

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