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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.
TheMaluka
18:16 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 08/06/2023 - 17:30This is one landlord who is not complaining, the more legislation that is piled on us by HMG the more tenants I get outbidding each other. I have some moral standards so I do not engage in bidding wars but my rents have of necessity increased to match the ever increasing tax demands.
Monty Bodkin
18:25 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 08/06/2023 - 16:47
Linking 'compo entitlement' to tenancy length will lead to landlords selecting short term tenants.
Comparing commercial to residential is like comparing apples to fish.
John
18:29 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 08/06/2023 - 17:30
I am not venting how hard done by I am Ian.
I am just saying whenever the government gets involved in anything they always balls it up!
I have the ultimate sanction if the government continues to make the PRS unattractive to individuals I can evict my tenants and sell my properties.
The government can then rehouse them in a hostel or some other hovel.
Mick Roberts
18:37 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Crouchender at 08/06/2023 - 13:16
Yes, Nottingham Labour Council it seems are going for lots of inspections now the scheme is nearly running out with 7 weeks left. Anything to get their failed houses numbers up as the Govt hasn't gave them permission yet for the new scheme which should start 1 August 2023. This house letter from tenant, the road has been excluded from the new scheme.
Mick Roberts
18:38 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 08/06/2023 - 16:45
Ditto. I've got same problem.
Steph Brownlow
18:54 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
What these Campaign Groups fail to understand is that these houses actually belong to the Landlords, not the tenants, which is evident by the fact that landlords do any repairs and maintenance. Also if they stop landlords reletting for 12months after an eviction, this will shatter the rental market. The private landlords are needed to plug the gap which social housing fails to address and also, for people who cannot get social housing abd cannot afford to buy. I agree that the rent rises should be capped for affordability. It seems that landlords are getting a raw deal at every turn. There are some pretty bad tenants who do not respect the property which is not theirs and which cost the landlord a lot of money and just move on without a care.
Rerktyne
19:08 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 08/06/2023 - 07:22
If the government doesn’t want to support the tenant then why should the landlord? Why stop there? Make the landlord provide food and clothing too: even a holiday!
Freda Blogs
21:26 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
They'll be after our first born child soon...
Max Knight
22:08 PM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Well you know what ? I'll sell up my portfolio and the local authority will have to put them all in b and bs which in our area will be in the worst areas on the city. Sick of all this landlord knocking.
Leslie Church
7:49 AM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Another nail in the coffin of the PRS. I see no future in BTL. Less Landlords = Less homes for rent. Where does Shelter and Generation Rent think people are going to live? Social housing appears to be in short supply. They want renters to have warm safe homes with secure tenancy but are alienating the very people who provide it.
I do wonder sometimes if the Government want rid of the smaller landlord with one or two properties and just have big professional companies to provide homes for rent on an industrial scale.