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10:09 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago 83
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Council leaders from across the political spectrum have asked the housing secretary, Michael Gove, to support an amendment to the Renters (Reform) Bill that would give tenants more time to find a new home if they are evicted.
Sky News says it has obtained a letter, signed by 103 local authority leaders, including the leader of Rishi Sunak’s constituency council in North Yorkshire, that urges Mr Gove to increase eviction notice periods from two months to four.
The letter, which was co-ordinated by the campaign group Renters Reform Coalition, says that this change would ‘give tenants more security and time to find a new home which suits their needs in the event they are evicted’ and would ‘reduce the number of people claiming homelessness support following the end of a private tenancy’.
The Renters (Reform) Bill, which is currently going through Parliament will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions which allow landlords to reclaim properties without giving a reason.
The campaign manager at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, Tom Darling, told Sky News the Bill ‘has many positive aspects – but it is still insufficient to address the scale of the crisis in the private rented sector’.
He said: “The two months being proposed, like the status quo, will leave renters frantically scrambling to find a suitable new home in time, with many ending up presenting as homeless to their local council when this search comes up empty.
“Not only will increasing notice periods provide more security for England’s 11 million private renters and alleviate some of the suffering in our housing system, it will also provide some much needed respite to local authorities buckling under the growing cost of temporary accommodation.”
However, under the Bill, landlords would only be able to evict tenants in England for specific reasons, such as selling their house or having a relative move in.
The Bill would keep a two-month notice period for these cases, which the Renters Reform Coalition argues is not enough for many people to secure alternative accommodation.
The coalition says that the end of private tenancies is the main cause of homelessness, with recent data showing that more than a quarter of eligible claims for homelessness support were made because a private tenancy had ended.
The letter states: “As you will know, Section 21 evictions are a leading cause of statutory homelessness – many renters are unable to find new accommodation in the two months available after being served an S21 eviction and end up being housed in temporary accommodation.”
The number of households living in temporary accommodation has doubled since 2012, reaching record highs, including the highest number of homeless children – more than 138,000 – since records began.
Last year, councils in England warned that spending on temporary accommodation was threatening to ‘overwhelm’ their budgets.
Analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) last year showed that ‘at least’ £1.74bn was spent supporting 104,000 households in the year ending in March – the highest amount since records began in 1998.
And this week, London Councils warned that several London boroughs are facing bankruptcy trying to meet homelessness bills.
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GlanACC
9:42 AM, 30th March 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by dolly day dream at 30/03/2024 - 09:29
No stress really, just frustration.
I believe landlords will have to change their business model now. All of my properties are fully paid up so if a tenant doesn't pay the rent then apart from losing that my expenses are not very much. Also have a plan B as I have other income to 'subsidise' my properties. Yes, this is not ideal but it may be the way we have to go going forward. The day of buying one or two properties on interest only mortgages for your pension are no longer viable as its just not financially a good idea or safe. Having a large portfolio on interest only may still be viable (I had 18) to cover non payers. I cannot stress more that you must have a plan B !!
NewYorkie
10:12 AM, 30th March 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 30/03/2024 - 09:42
Much depends on where you are in your landlord journey. I've done my 20+ years and am retired. My plan B was always to keep working, and while many on here saw BTL as their escape from the daily grind, I loved my work and really didn't want to retire... Covid!
I'm now stuck with one BTL which is blighted by leasehold [yes, I know I shouldn't have...!], but unfortunately, my long term tenants will have to find somewhere else if I get a reasonable offer. No doubt they will play the council's game when it comes to it.
GlanACC
10:36 AM, 30th March 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 30/03/2024 - 10:12
Yup, I am past retirement age but still running my 2 businesses one day a week. Don't actually need the rents from the properties so I suppose I am in a fortunate position and luckily my remaining tenants are all long term. I won't be chucking them out but will sell when they leave (or die !)
NewYorkie
10:48 AM, 30th March 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 30/03/2024 - 10:36
My state pension will be £13k+ next week, which will pay for holidays. ISA and shares for income. I just want to clear my head of BTL. My focus this year is refurbishing and extending my early Victorian townhouse. Planning permission just granted. Next year... who knows!
GlanACC
10:50 AM, 30th March 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 30/03/2024 - 10:48
I am looking at another 2nd hand Maserati (£25k) had one a few years ago but got written off by an uninsured driver
NewYorkie
11:13 AM, 30th March 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 30/03/2024 - 10:50
I had an old Mercedes SL which I loved, and took to Le Mans a couple of times [and it didn't break down!], but had to give it up due to lack of parking space in London. I have a Mercedes soft top now, and am building a double garage. My partner says if I'd like a classic car, what's stopping me?
Rodders H
22:22 PM, 30th March 2024, About a month ago
"The coalition says that the end of private tenancies is the main cause of homelessness".
Homelessness is caused by the local authorities who ask people to become homeless before they can get help from them.
More than a quarter - so what is that 26%? What about the other 74%?
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Rodders H
22:44 PM, 30th March 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Barbaracus at 01/03/2024 - 09:36
I am all for going from 2 months to 3 months. But in exchange for that, that is the final day regardless of whether a gas safety cert is missing or not. It's finished and both sides should know this. There is no need for expensive solicitors and charlatans charging tenants anything. They should know, councils should know, when that notice drops, in 90 days it expire and there is no comeback.
But in terms of alleviating, this is just private landlords subsidising the council via their own savings. Much like how our savings were being dipped into for austerity policies of the Conservatives, covid policies. Eventually there isn't anymore money.
Mick Roberts
5:58 AM, 1st April 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Rodders H at 30/03/2024 - 22:44
Makes my blood boil this boiler certificate.
I've had new boiler Judge since, so it's irrelevant.
Judge, no it's not, we need the OLD paperwork.
Absolutely irrelevant, just an Anti-Landlord rul/reg that's hurting tenants get new houses.
TheMaluka
7:37 AM, 1st April 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 01/04/2024 - 05:58
Jobsworths often consider that paperwork is more important then physical reality.
Reminds me of the time the fire officer tried to insist that we had an up to date electrical certificate for the communial lighting before we rewired the whole system. He had to weave his way round stepladders being used for the rewire.