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Housing minister seeks to reassure landlords ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act
8:01 AM, 28th April 2026, 3 weeks ago
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The housing minister has claimed, “responsible landlords have nothing to fear from the Renters’ Rights Act”.
Writing in the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) magazine in an effort to reassure landlords ahead of the act coming into force this week, Matthew Pennycook said the government “is committed to supporting landlords through the transition”.
Under the act, Section 21 evictions will be abolished and fixed-term tenancies will become periodic.
Changes of this magnitude are inherently unsettling
Mr Pennycook admitted to the NRLA magazine that for some landlords, the “magnitude of changes are inherently unsettling”.
He told the NRLA magazine: “I know from officials in my Department who attended the NRLA conference last November that some landlords had concerns around implementation. Longstanding concerns around issues such as court capacity were aired and new concerns were raised about the possibility of making inadvertent mistakes.
“I fully appreciate that changes of this magnitude are inherently unsettling. This is, after all, the most significant package of reforms to the sector in almost four decades.
“However, I want to reassure you that responsible landlords have nothing to fear from the changes we are making, and that we are committed to ensuring you have the required guidance and support needed to navigate the transition.”
He adds: “As they did in Liverpool last year, my officials continue to engage with landlords and landlord bodies to understand and respond to outstanding concerns and provide the information necessary for landlords to prepare. I am grateful to the efforts being made by the NRLA to proactively support their members as we move toward implementation.
“I am acutely aware, as I have been since we first introduced the bill to Parliament, that the measures in the act will place demands on parts of the state that the sector relies on. To ensure a smooth implementation of the act these must be ready. We continue to support the justice system with funding to make sure that the courts and tribunals have the resources and capacity they need to cope with any increased demand that results from the changes we are making.”
Simpler regulation and clear and expanded possession grounds
Mr Pennycook also claimed the act will provide landlords with “tangible benefits in the form of simpler regulation and clear and expanded possession grounds, so that landlords are able to regain their properties quickly when necessary.”
He adds that stronger council enforcement powers “will be brought to bear on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against renters, helping to improve the reputation of the sector as a whole.”
Mr Pennycook’s full interview with the NRLA can be found by clicking here.
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James Cleverley blames Labour’s Renters’ Rights Act after receiving Section 21 notice
4 weeks ago | 27 comments
Member Since August 2022 - Comments: 104
9:11 AM, 28th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
…..“tangible benefits in the form of simpler regulation and clear and expanded possession grounds, so that landlords are able to regain their properties quickly when necessary.” …. wins the Guiness Book of Records for number of lies packed into a single sentence.
Member Since March 2022 - Comments: 368
10:21 AM, 28th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I dumped the NRLA years ago as all they wanted me to do was “delight my tenants” and try to sell me stuff so I don’t get the magazine. I hope the interviewer for the magazine gave Pennycook a hard time but I expect not.
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 117
10:36 AM, 28th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
The NRLA like shelter have now just become an organisation that just looks after itself. A large number of paid staff that achieve little and pretend to have the ear of government and the PRS.
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 781
10:37 AM, 28th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
He told the NRLA magazine: “I know from officials in my Department who attended the NRLA conference last November that some landlords had concerns around implementation. Longstanding concerns around issues such as court capacity were aired and new concerns were raised about the possibility of making inadvertent mistakes.”
And…?
Member Since June 2021 - Comments: 16
11:11 AM, 28th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Nothing to fear…. apart from irresponsible tenants, for which the act provides no meaningful, timely support.
Member Since February 2020 - Comments: 365
12:29 PM, 28th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I think even responsible landlords do have to fea inadvertent mistakes, which are guaranteed to happen.
Member Since November 2019 - Comments: 162
1:00 PM, 28th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Is there a Truthful Statement in Any paragraph ?
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 213
12:39 AM, 29th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Every time I hear the phrase a good landlords have nothing to fear and level playing field just make my blood boil. It’s normally just another politician talking Bull and avoiding the question of why they are destroying the PRS.
I do have to agree that during the whole of the RRA the NRLA have been as bout as much help as a chocolate toothbrush. I’m still a member but refuse to take part in their surveys and training that expires every year.
The RLA was good, the NRLA is all just about making money.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 588
3:06 AM, 29th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Nothing To Fear – except a threat of a massive 7K fine rising to 40K for a simple admin error by failing to serve the Gov Info Sheet on a tenant which they are very unlikely to even read
My council the freeholder on some of my leaseholds routinely have failed to send me the block insurance policy schedule every year for the past 5 years. An insurance document is far more important than their Info Sheet. I don`t even get an apology when i have to chase them to send it to me to show my mortgage company that I`m insured ……So like for like the Council now owe me millions of pounds in fines for their own abject admin failures
Nothing to Fear – but we are also giving councils 41 million extra quid to mercilessly chase Landlords for not serving that document ( and we wont say it in public but we expect to see a 10% yield on our investment.)
Someone in authority saying `Nothing To Fear ` is a psychological tactic specifically designed to induce fear
Member Since November 2020 - Comments: 53
11:14 AM, 29th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I don’t think I’m afraid, just sick and tired of all the dreary legislation. I’m from a generation that built a relationship with tenants who generally used the deposit as the last month’s rent before happily moving on. So long and thanks for all the fish