Government shifts away from blanket bans on benefit recipients and families

Government shifts away from blanket bans on benefit recipients and families

0:05 AM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago 21

Text Size

The government has tabled amendments to make it illegal for landlords and letting agents to have blanket bans on renting to people who receive benefits or who have children.

Other amendments include introducing a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector.

The amendments will be considered at the Committee stage for the Renters Reform Bill in the House of Commons.

Improving housing standards

Housing Secretary Michael Gove said: “Everyone deserves a home that is safe, warm and decent. But far too many live in conditions that fall well below what is acceptable.

“As part of our long-term plan for housing, we are improving housing standards across the entire private rented sector, while also ending discrimination against vulnerable people and families who are being unfairly denied access to a home.”

Mr Gove assured landlords they will still be able to carry out reference checks to make sure a tenancy is affordable and have the final say on who they let their property to.

This will apply to England and Wales and will be extended to Scotland via a further amendment at the Report Stage.

New enforcement powers

Alongside this, a Decent Homes Standard (DHS) will be applied to the private rented sector for the first time.

The new standard will set a clear bar for what tenants should expect from their home ensuring it is safe, warm and decent.

Local Authorities will be given new enforcement powers to require landlords to make properties decent, with fines up to £30,000 or a banning order in the worst cases.

Tenants will also be able to claim up to 24 months rent back through rent repayment orders up from 12 previously.

Councils will also be given stronger powers to investigate landlords who rent substandard homes, providing them with the tools they need to identify and take enforcement action against the criminal minority and help drive them out of the sector.


Share This Article


Comments

LaLo

14:14 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

No need to worry - the answer is simple! Become a tenant and after 2 years sue for back rent then use that money to pay for 2 years rent for the next place then after 2 years sue to get it back then move on to the next and so on - living rent free forever whilst living it up with on the proceeds from the sale of your properties. So what’s the problem? I forgot - my council are able to dish out ‘unlimited’ fines, so that’s the end of that idea!

Mick Roberts

15:10 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

I’m biggest Benefit Landlord in Nottingham. Housed more than any other private provider over 26 years. And I am now refusing Benefit tenants.
Do we not think it’s time Shelter & the Govt come ask me why?
So we can tackle the cause?

Oops there it is again, £30,000 fine. That will keep more Landlords in for more supply for cheaper rents, shouldn't it? Great thinking Govt & Gove.

Ooh & if it wasn't bad enough already paying tenants £12,000 for a paperwork error for a VERY NICE HOUSE, but no Selective License, the punishment is now £24,000. Absolute Nuts. Govt, you have now just caused more Landlords to sell & increased rents for good tenants that have done nothing wrong.

Surefire way to become a criminal & go to prison-Become a Landlord. You try & help the homeless & u get fined for it-Why bother?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mick-roberts-landlord-436280ab/

Ashleigh

17:14 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by John MacAlevey at 16/11/2023 - 10:15
You are completely correct. My son is a carpenter working on a large housing development and he’s been told that Lloyds bank have purchased half of the site to rent out. The government doesn’t want us. They make us all out to be money grabbing, heartless monsters when I guess the majority of us on here are anything but that. I’ve almost got to the point where I’m embarrassed to tell people what I do for a living because we are all now tarred with the same brush as those shown on tv programmes.
I think our days are numbered!

Reluctant Landlord

17:24 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ashleigh at 16/11/2023 - 17:14
I sometimes give the tongue in cheek answer as 'I am a provider of social housing'.

This could prove self professing in the not too distant future if this carries on...

Stella

17:53 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 16/11/2023 - 15:10
Mick it is clear that the Government are doing everything they can to promote Build to Rent.

The only time that they will appreciate people who have housed Benefit tenants is when they can no loeger ignore the problem and it becomes an issue at the ballot box.

Tenants cannot see what is happening and that this will result in less property available for these on average incomes and even less available for lower income groups.

Shelter deserve a lot more scrutiny because in my opinion they are only making things much worse for the people that they are supposed to represent.

LaLo

18:03 PM, 16th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ashleigh at 16/11/2023 - 17:14
All you say is true but you’ve got it wrong saying LLs are money grabbing monsters - it’s the government/authorities that are the money grabbing monsters!

Mick Roberts

8:13 AM, 17th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 16/11/2023 - 17:53
Yes & we know these Build to rent are not for the lower income people.

Shelter are making it worse by not letting a Landlord get his property back when he wants, u have no properties to start with.

GlanACC

8:29 AM, 17th November 2023, About 6 months ago

No point in getting worked up, with so many people viewing a single house it should be very easy to exclude people on benefits and those that have kids or pets AND give a plausable excuse. Won't bother me though as as when each tenant leaves I will sell.

Ian Simpson

9:57 AM, 18th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 16/11/2023 - 10:32
Yes indeed. The Headline is TOTALLY at odds with the body of the article, and indeed, what seems to be planned by the RRB.

What's going on here Property 118 ...?

john thompson

20:41 PM, 18th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Blanket ban or not, it's my house if I don't want benefit claiming tennants, I won't have them.
Try proving I deliberately dismiss them from the HUGE list of desperate applicants your moronic policys have created.
Besides that, you lot freezing the housing benefits for years automatically rules claimants out of affording most private rentals, another one of your many destructive, moronic policys.
Lol...you really couldn't make it up!

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now