Ben Beadle supports abolition of Section 21 but calls for urgent court reforms

Ben Beadle supports abolition of Section 21 but calls for urgent court reforms

10:54 AM, 22nd October 2024, About 3 weeks ago 72

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Ben Beadle claims that the NRLA does NOT oppose the abolition of Section 21, but the court system urgently needs reform to handle evictions.

During the committee stage hearing of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the chief executive of the NRLA, Ben Beadle said: “The court system is on its knees and landlords are having to wait months for a bailiff.”

Also in the committee hearing, chair of the Lettings Industry Council, Theresa Wallace warns the Bill will cause unintended consequences and increase homelessness.

The Bill will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and make it easier for tenants with children and pets to find homes.

NRLA’s position is very clear we do not oppose the abolition of Section 21

Mr Beadle says the NRLA welcomes the Bill and recognises the government’s efforts to address housing issues.

He told the Committee hearing: “We are largely supportive of the Bill and the Minister should take credit for how quickly the government is bringing in these reforms.

“Our position has been very clear that we do not oppose the abolition of Section 21 providing the alternative is workable and fair.”

Mr Beadle says more balance is needed in the Bill when it comes to court reforms.

He said: “We need real confidence in court reform because, right now, it’s taking an average of seven months to get a property back. With the move to Section 8, this is going to become even more important.

“We also need investment in the court system as otherwise we will not be delivering what landlords or tenants need.”

Mr Beadle pointed to an NRLA survey revealing that 60% of landlords said they were less confident or not confident about remaining a landlord without proper court reforms in place.

Bill will cause homelessness

Theresa Wallace warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill will cause homelessness.

She said: “The Bill has the best intentions but it has unintended consequences and one of these will be more homelessness.

“We know that Section 21 will be abolished but it will not solve the issues in the private rented sector.

“Figures from the English Housing Survey reveal more than one million tenants in the PRS are in receipt of benefit payments and the majority of those should be in social housing. If we had those social homes we wouldn’t have the supply and demand imbalance.

“We have figures which show a 12% increase of properties on the market now which is the highest since 2014 per agent.

“The private landlord is very scared about the Bill and is exiting the sector. We need these homes in the PRS, and we’ve got to keep these landlords because tenants rely on them.”

Confidence in the PRS decreases

Mr Beadle says the Bill has missed the robust grounds needed for landlords to retake possession.

He said: “I don’t see a doubling of notice for serious rent arrears and an increase of the serious rent arrears threshold from two months to three months as either sending the right message or being fair and proportionate.

“Those tenancies will largely fail, whether it’s two months or six months. What we want to see is to avoid rent arrears from building up in the first place.

“We are supportive of a pre-action protocol where responsible landlords can signpost tenants to manage their arrears.”

Mr Beadle added: “There’s an average of 21 people chasing every property. Whatever a nip and a tuck we make, whether landlords are leaving or not, that’s only going to worsen as confidence in the PRS decreases.”

The committee hearing will also hear from tenant groups such as Shelter and Generation Rent.

Watch a clip of Ben Beadle at the Committee hearing below


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Chris @ Possession Friend

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13:39 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 25/10/2024 - 09:47
That's correct Stella,
The main reason NRLA members joined is for the Advice line, that they find reassuring if they find themselves with a pressing question - in a pickle.

I offer FREE Advice, so that takes the main reason members join, 'off the table '

Freda Blogs

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13:27 PM, 28th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 23/10/2024 - 10:29
Victims also include the LL who loses financially whilst the good tenants - who won’t put up with their housemate’s poor behaviour - seek alternative accommodation.

It beggars belief that in almost all walks of life (but particularly in the PRS), government supports the wrongdoers over those that have right on their side. They actively condone tenants ignoring their contractual obligations in their ASTs, irrespective of the hardship or other impact visited upon a LL who in many cases is blameless, aside from letting a property to a tenant in good faith.

Whiteskifreak Surrey

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19:59 PM, 28th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 25/10/2024 - 09:47
Hi Stella,
I would be grateful for some links - sorry I have not come across anything like that.
Thank you.

Chris @ Possession Friend

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21:11 PM, 28th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Freda Blogs at 28/10/2024 - 13:27Short explanation, is - its called Socialism ( Communism )
That the Liebour party are wedded to it is no surprise, but for businesses to see the last Conservative [sic] Govt, stealing the concept from Labour and throwing their supporters under the bus is a step too far ( As they've recently discovered )

Stella

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21:49 PM, 28th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 28/10/2024 - 19:59
http://www.reformparty.uk/policies

Click on our contract with you and scroll down to housing (Britain has a housing crisis) which I think is page 17 of 28

2nd and 3rd paragraph about scrapping section 24 and the RRB

Whiteskifreak Surrey

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22:25 PM, 28th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 28/10/2024 - 21:49
Thank you!

Chris @ Possession Friend

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0:01 AM, 29th October 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 28/10/2024 - 21:49
Reform are far more ' Conservative ' ( and respecting the principles of business and capitalism ) than the Tory party !

GlanACC

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8:11 AM, 31st October 2024, About A week ago

Well, the budget has proved Ben the Beagles worth and influence - NONE, except when he agrees with Shelter and GR.

Trouble with the NRLA is they ARE a big organisation and do represent 100,00+ landlords BUT there are millions of landlords.

Also, the NRLA seem to concentrate on making money now whereas in the past as the RLA they were much better.

Paul Cunningham

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18:33 PM, 6th November 2024, About 2 days ago

So, despite members wished the NRLA has decided to support Section 21 abolition. Just how distanced from your membership can you become, Pointless organisation.

Beaver

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12:06 PM, 7th November 2024, About 2 days ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul Cunningham at 06/11/2024 - 18:33
I'm not a member of the NRLA so I'm not in a position to comment here on the history of RLA vs. NRLA.

It seems to me that the NRLA position should have been that the courts must be reviewed before even considering removing section 21 and going along with its removal is an extraordinarily weak position to be taking in the negotiation.

Does anybody know what the position of Propertymark is on this? Are organisations representing professional agents doing a better job of also representing the interests of professional landlords and responsible tenants than the NRLA?

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