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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.
Mick Roberts
7:56 AM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Steph Brownlow at 08/06/2023 - 18:54
Yes & we've got Sadiq Khan saying lots of Landlords haven't got any mortgages so they can afford to freeze rents etc. Aah right, we a charity are we? That's Council's job, not ours. Likes u say House belongs to Landlord. We effectively can do what we want with our money. If the interest rate is poor from a bank account, we switch bank accounts. But we not allowed to do what we want with the money in the house? It's now the tenants is it?
Dylan Morris
8:01 AM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 09/06/2023 - 07:56The Government lock everybody down due to a bit of flu, print a ton of money, this causes inflation, they blame the inflation on Putin, mortgage rates spike, tenants struggle, they blame landlords.
Peter
13:33 PM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago
As a tenant I totally disagree with this proposal. My Landlord of 11 years has been great. However, with all the Landlord bashing he's almost at the point of selling up. This Bill should be called "The Tenant AND LANDLORD Bill. I'm actually more worried what damage the Gov will do to us Tenants by making life so hard for Landlords. I really don't know what I'll do if my Landlord says enough is.
JB
13:52 PM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Tracy Fewtrell at 09/06/2023 - 13:33
Well done Tracy. We need more tenants like you speaking up
Rod
14:08 PM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago
iHowz are very happy to see that the Renters Reform Coalition seem to have taken on board our proposal to retain S21, whilst providing some recompense for good tenants who are being asked to move when they have rented a property for many years as good tenants.
https://ihowz.uk/the-unintended-consequences-of-losing-the-section-21-notice/
iHowz are surprised that the Coalition need to make this demand, given that the government has already committed to abolish S21 - does the Coalition not trust the government to deliver on this promise?
There is no proposed 3 month ban on reletting after serving S21, as it is planned to abolish S21. The ban would be for reletting where new S8 grounds for refurbishment or family occupation had been used.
iHowz also have no problem with the government's proposal to require use of Form 4, under S13 to increase rents as it is likely that this would be a step closer to bringing the PRS in line with the SRS by indexing rents. This is common in many European countries and is a form of rent stabilisation favoured by Professor of Housing Economics, Christine Whitehead.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001l23j
Unusually, the date for the second reading of the Bill has not yet been published, so while we wait, we urge all landlords to let their MP know why S21 should be retained - at least until the new S8 grounds have been enacted and proven to work equitably when tested by the courts.
Rod
14:44 PM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 08/06/2023 - 16:47
Ian, thanks for the commercial let analogy.
As you say, we all love to use these threads to rant but how many landlords even bother to message their MP or join a landlord association, where their interests and concerns can be represented?
To those of you who say "why would I bother joining a landlord association", I say shame on you. Less than 5% of landlords are willing to pay around £100 to help support them. No wonder we get kicked around by government.
https://ihowz.uk/join/#membership
Monty Bodkin
15:44 PM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Rod at 09/06/2023 - 14:08
"why would I bother joining a landlord association"
I've been a member of every landlord association, they don't represent my interests (nor 95% of landlords going by your estimate).
I'd rather have no representation than support a certain landlord organisation that doesn't oppose the scrapping of section 21.
"We urge all landlords to let their MP know why S21 should be retained"
Agreed and done.
"iHowz also have no problem with the government's proposal to require use of Form 4, under S13 to increase rents"
I doubt most landlords would agree. Is that the view of your members?
Peter Cox
19:05 PM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago
As a tenant absolutely absurd - these people have no concept of economics let alone reality.
Please keep renting out guys especially in London
RICHARD EDWARDS
0:01 AM, 10th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Ultimately the UK government has failed,
Not just this Conservative administration, but all the political parties with over 30years not building enough housing and selling off the council housing stock on the cheap and not rebuilding new homes,
They decide to cut housing benefits(oh that was labour), so anyone in a low paid job, high rental property is struggling, becoming homeless
If landlords want to complaint about charities demanding these rule changes, then so be it, but someone somewhere needs housing, and government hasn't done what it should...
Gromit
7:59 AM, 10th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Laura Delow at 08/06/2023 - 08:50
..stretching the point when it comes to there being good politicians.