Ben Beadle claims Renters’ Rights Bill’s Section 21 Ban is “not a big change”

Ben Beadle claims Renters’ Rights Bill’s Section 21 Ban is “not a big change”

9:10 AM, 12th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago 51

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Ben Beadle claims removing Section 21 will not be “a significant change for landlords.”

In an interview with BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “It’s unreasonable for landlords to issue a Section 21 without a decent reason.”

His comments come after the Renters’ Rights Bill which is set to be introduced in Parliament will ban Section 21 evictions for new and existing tenancies as soon as it becomes law.

Section 21 ban shouldn’t be a significant change for landlords

Mr Beadle told the programme that he understands why the government wants to ban Section 21.

He said: “I understand the threat of Section 21 hanging over people’s heads where landlords don’t need to give a reason.

“I fully understand why the government is removing Section 21. I think we need to understand that we shouldn’t push the needle too far.

“While it’s unreasonable for landlords to issue Section 21 without a decent reason, I would argue that if you have a good tenant, you will want to keep them in the property.”

Mr Beadle then goes on to claim that despite a ban, this wouldn’t be a significant change.

He said: “This shouldn’t be a significant change for landlords all they want is an alternative to be effective for dealing with things like anti-social behaviour, rent arrears and selling a property.”

I have no issue with tenants having access to justice

Emma Barnett, the show’s presenter, asked Mr Beadle about plans to limit rent increases under the Renters’ Rights Bill.

She claimed there are fears that “unaffordable rent rises will become another form of no-fault eviction”.

The Bill aims to ban rent increases during a tenancy, allowing landlords to raise rent only once a year and only to the market rate.

Mr Beadle says many tenants don’t realise they can challenge rent increases.

He said: “I have no issue with tenants having access to justice. Tenants can already challenge unfair rent increases through the First Tier Tribunal, so this isn’t new, but many don’t even know it’s an option.”

According to Mr Beadle, more homes need to be built to ease demand with on average 17 tenants applying to rent one property.

He said: “Until we deal with the core issue of a lack of supply in the sector that’s not going to get better through these changes in some respects it may well get worse because it will force good landlords out of the sector.”

Don’t drive good landlords out of the sector

Ms Barnett asked what is driving the behaviour of some landlords in the private rented sector.

Mr Beadle says due to a lack of enforcement, many criminal landlords are simply able to get away with bad behaviour.

He said: “I think there is a lack of enforcement. Local authorities have been absolutely decimated in the past decade with regards to funding, and that simply means the vast majority of landlords have been doing a good job, do care about their tenants, and have much greater satisfaction ratings in the private rented sector than in social housing.”

Mr Beadle expressed some concerns about the Renters’ Rights Bill, emphasising the importance of good landlords in the sector.

He said: “What we don’t want to do is drive the good landlords out of the sector and leave the bad ones behind.

“Whatever these changes are going to look like we need to see a greater investment in enforcement in the sector.”

You can listen to the full interview here from 1 hr 15 mins.


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Cider Drinker

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11:53 AM, 11th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

In itself, the RRB isn’t a big deal. However, when coupled with a fair tax system and ridiculous regulations that only target the PRS, it is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

The unfair taxation and over regulation simply serves to increase rents and the Housing Benefit bill.

There must be a masterplan but I’m darned if I can see what it is unless it’s to steal my investment a bit at a time.

Paul Essex

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13:09 PM, 11th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

OK so if have any HMO tenant who upsets the other residents the NRLA is now stating that they are free to continue with no possible landlord sanctions!

Stella

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15:16 PM, 11th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 11/09/2024 - 11:53
The renters rights bill IS a very big deal.
They can make it sound palatable but
leaving us with no control of our assets and making it virtually impossible to gain possession is not palatable.
Then they are also talking about introducing a hardship clause so that it will actually be impossible to gain possession.

Monty Bodkin

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16:02 PM, 11th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Ben Beadle claims removing Section 21 will not be “a significant change for landlords.”

There speaks someone who doesn't know what renting was like before section 21.

There's a reason for the huge sucess of the PRS.

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Cider Drinker

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16:23 PM, 11th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 11/09/2024 - 15:16
(My original post should have said ‘unfair’ rather than ‘fair’)

I’ve never issued a Section 21 Notice nor a Section 8. My intention was to pass my properties on to my children when I die. If the playing field was a little more level, my plan would have worked. However, the children don’t want to be burdened with property and tenants when I die so it’s time to get rid,

Stella

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16:54 PM, 11th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 11/09/2024 - 16:02
I completely agree they are repeating history and I am astounded when I hear that our representatives try to tell us that this bill and loosing section 21 will not mean a significant change.
It is not prudent that they ignore history when there is so much that can be learned from it!

Jack Jennings

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21:48 PM, 11th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Not having an initial six months contract is quite a big deal. It has been said that tenants will not move unnecessarily because of the cost. No one is talking about the landlord costs associated with finding and then checking a new tenant.

Neil Robb

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6:19 AM, 12th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Here was I thinking Ben Beadle was there to represent landlords.

Did he say let's make other sections mandatory.

Rent arrears
Anti social behaviour
Theft criminal damage.
Make it a criminal offence to harness the landlord as it is a criminal offence to harass a tenant.

Tenants are not held accountable for their behaviour.

Yet Ben wants more action taken against landlords.

It is easy to mis something and leave yourself open.

Chris Mills

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9:52 AM, 12th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

So my initial thought is that to be able to exit the market as I get older, I need to now increase rents by say 10%, and by inflation yearly thereafter. I've mostly left it until people leave naturally before raising rents but now my hand is being forced. And I'll only rent to people who have a reason to comply with laws and common sense principles i.e. those with something to lose. That rules out around 20 or 30% of potential renters, maybe more.

Downsize Government

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10:01 AM, 12th September 2024, About 4 weeks ago

He says
“It’s unreasonable for landlords to issue a Section 21 without a decent reason.”

However a decent reason might not because proscribed reason. There are all sorts of edge cases where an owner may need a property back.

Also it is a big deal, as the government is further encroaching on property rights (the basis of the justice system)

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