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15:22 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago 86
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The Renters Reform Coalition is encouraging tenants across England to contact their MPs to support the Renters’ Reform Bill.
The coalition, which includes housing sector organisations, charities, and partners like Big Issue, aims to bolster tenants’ rights and bring about ‘meaningful change’ in the rental market.
To garner support, tenants are encouraged to email their MPs, requesting their attendance at the Bill’s second reading.
According to Shelter’s Polly Neate, the coalition has recommended several amendments to the Bill to fortify tenants’ rights and ensure the legislation possesses the ‘teeth needed for real change’.
And part of the call includes having landlords pay the tenant TWO MONTHS rent to find somewhere new to live AND move home.
The coalition is also calling for the imposition of a one-year ban on re-letting a property after a landlord uses a no-fault eviction – rather than the planned three-month ban.
Introduced last month, the renter reforms seek to abolish section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions so landlords cannot possess a property without providing a reason.
The Bill also aims to grant tenants more power to own pets and enhance the quality of privately rented homes.
However, the coalition proposes that judges should have full discretion to determine whether an eviction is justified.
They also recommend instituting a cap on in-tenancy rent increases, tied to the lower of inflation or wage growth, to prevent rent increases being used as a covert eviction tactic.
Landlords and letting agents might also be surprised at the demand from Generation Rent that a landlord pays their tenant two months’ rent to help them find a new place to live and move home.
And the groups says that landlords who want to sell will have to list the property for sale with a sitting tenant for six months before seeking an eviction.
As part of the campaign to get support, Shelter has launched a campaign for 5,000 supporters to email their MP and urge them to turn up for the Bill’s second reading.
The charity’s campaign page states: ‘By contacting your MP, you’re showing them just how important this bill is to you.
‘As their constituent, you have their ear, so adding your own story about why renting must be fixed will make your email even more powerful.
‘We need as many MPs as possible to turn up to the debate and demand for it to be focused on renters’ rights and as strong as possible.’
On Twitter, Ms Neate said: “This is not the time to relax on reform of private renting.
“There’s real danger of loopholes in the Renters Reform Bill that could undermine benefits of ending no-fault evictions.”
Along with improved tenant protections, the coalition is also calling for an extended eviction notice period of four months instead of the current proposal of two months.
It also suggests shielding renters from section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions during the first two years of a tenancy, as opposed to the proposed six months.
According to the coalition, these changes would offer a significant improvement over the existing system.
moneymanager
10:17 AM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
What these, and many other measures both property related and not, actually mean is the encroachment of the state on the rights of use of private property, taken to its extreme that would be nationalisation albeit here without compensation in which case it is sequestration, let's just call it what it is, communism.
John MacAlevey
10:41 AM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Dear Polly, please come to my house with all your friends, I`ll put a tent in the rear yard for my family. You`re welcome to all the food & drink in my house, full details of my bank account will be provided immediately you arrive. Phone numbers for Just Eat, KFC & pizza hut will be at hand. I will let myself in, with your permission, to undertake washing & cleaning of the house, shopping for everyone. Please advise if this is sufficient for your fiends.
NewYorkie
11:12 AM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by moneymanager at 08/06/2023 - 10:17
Government [of whatever colour] is being dragged by the nose by the lure of rental votes, to the point of believing they can tell private landlords what they can do with their money. Well, landlords vote too, and will vote with their feet... out of the PRS [it's been happening for 3 years], with zero social housing to take up the demand.
Paul Power
11:16 AM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
It's always extremes with these things. If the fear is S21s just to remove tenants and increase rents then legislate for a 12 month rent freeze based on the previous cost with an rpi increase permissible. Feels like a reasonable middle ground
John
11:23 AM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Polly Neate is clearly insane.
As previous people have commented she is doing more harm to the people she claims to represent than any of the worst landlords could ever do.
I have been a landlord for over 20 years,and recently sold two very good flats where I could not get the EPC higher than a D.
These latest government proposals and the hysterical rants from Polly Neate and her ilk are seriously making me consider whether I should exit the PRS altogether.
If I do over 20 families will be forced to move house because this landlord is sick and tired of being unjustly villified.
Martin Roberts
11:23 AM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Maybe Tesco will provide 2 months free food for tenants moving home, and the energy supplies give free gas and electricity for two months…
Neil Fleetham
11:34 AM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
We find ourselves in the midst of an unhinged witch-hunt orchestrated by radical professional activists in collusion with a populist left wing Tory government. Their distorted agenda seeks to make us the sacrificial lambs for all the nation's troubles, just like 1930s Germany. They won't rest until every last landlord is driven out, leaving chaos in their wake. Little do they realise the dire consequences that await them when they struggle to find shelter in just a few short years.
Mick Roberts
11:53 AM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Laura Delow at 08/06/2023 - 08:50
I do it for Altruism now. Wrong I know. And yes, I did initially start out to make money, & many of us now are forced into this Altruism. But Altruism doesn't pay for Govt & Council 2023 outgoings, so we then have to stop this Altruism.
You say very good words, yet lots of Renters can't afford the deposit etc.
Talking of, letter enclosed tenant has had to send this morning to Council Licensing who 'assumed' the tenant would want the Council Inspecting:
142 XXX Drive
Bestwood
Nottingham
NG5 XXX
Dear Licensing,
My Landlord has informed me you are coming into my house 21st June.
I'm sorry, but we are at work that day.
Also, I'm not having you come into my house when I have done nothing wrong, nor my Landlord. We have no problems with the house.
We don't agree with Selective Licensing as you have made Landlords increase rents to pay for Licensing and you have made Landlords sell which has let other Landlords increase rents through Supply Demand.
Hence us tenants lose out as we can no longer move any where any more.
Should you wish to get a court order to enter, then we will of course comply.
Can I ask
What gives you the right to send my Landlord a letter saying you are coming in my house on a certain date with no time appointments just like that? I think this is disgusting.
Yours,
Keith Stead
12:19 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
With much regret we have decided to remove ourselves from the private rental sector and sell our 4 rental properties.
We have excellent tenants and have a really good relationship with them all. This is however our retirement income (our only income) and injecting long term risk and instability to this as a direct result of these changes and more importantly 'charitable' interference, we just cannot accept. Just as tenants need stability, so do we.
Four families will soon be looking for new homes - undoubtedly with much higher rents.
Nick M
13:06 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
If tenants want a payment of 2 months rent at the end of a tenancy that's fine - will just need to be priced into the cost. It's adding another service. Would need to work out likely contact length and those who might abuse this (by paying a months rent, then leaving and wanting to get two months free).
If you can be protected with a minimum term of 6 months, then would add 2 months cost to rent of 6 months. So would need a 33% rent rise. The tenants who stay longer would lose out - but if that's the requirement then financially need to cost this in.
I'd look at the whole picture and the extra costs/risks required and if rent rises would support this. If so, continue renting if not sell up
I'm also happy to add other services (eg. cleaning, gardening, turning down the sheets and putting chocolate on pillow etc!) but all have a cost. If these are mandated then how could people pay?
All of these government and pressure group requests look likely to harm renters more than landlords. If costs get too high for us, we sell up. Tenants, particularly those who can't buy or want more flexibility to move, are stuck.
I do think we need to be more explicit about how we present rent. Break down any rent increases eg. licencing costs x%, increasing insurance % etc etc.