Jacob Young MP addresses NRLA members on Renters (Reform) Bill

Jacob Young MP addresses NRLA members on Renters (Reform) Bill

10:53 AM, 29th April 2024, About 5 months ago 24

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The Housing Minister tells NRLA that ‘stay put’ instructions by local authorities until bailiffs arrive, is completely unacceptable.

Jacob Young MP addressed NRLA members in a webinar after the Renters (Reform) Bill passed its final stage in the House of Commons.

Mr Young also covered licensing and the abolition of Section 21 in the 45-minute meeting.

Completely unacceptable

It’s common practice for councils to tell tenants to remain in their rented home when facing eviction.

The Homelessness Code of Guidance states where applicants are threatened with homelessness councils must take reasonable steps to help prevent it from occurring.

The first step the guidance says: “Housing authorities should not consider it reasonable for an applicant to remain in occupation until eviction by a bailiff.”

Mr Young told NRLA members that local authorities telling tenants to stay put is completely unacceptable and creates further delays in possession.

He added that local authorities must contact landlords to understand the circumstances of the eviction and establish what steps can be taken to prevent homelessness.

Bill which works for landlords and tenants

Housing charities have condemned the government for delaying Section 21 evictions arguing it leaves tenants at risk.

However, Mr Young told the NRLA: “Undertaking a full review of the court system before section 21 goes for existing tenancies is the sensible way forward.”

He also revealed plans to phase-in changes to the repossession system would prevent landlords – and tenants – from facing the ‘cliff edge’ experienced by landlords in Scotland and Wales during similar times of change.

Mr Young also addressed concerns regarding the property portal and selective licensing.

The NRLA has argued selective licensing is not needed if the property portal exists. Mr Young confirmed a planned review will take place of licensing schemes to minimise their overlap with the so-called property portal being introduced when the Bill becomes law.

He also suggested licensing fees could be cut and schemes downsized.

NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle said: “We are delighted the Minister was able to join us so soon after the latest amendments were passed, to give us exclusive insight into the decisions made and roadmap for change.

“This demonstrates the Minister’s commitment to ensuring the Bill is one which works for landlords as well as tenants.”


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Adam Whitfield

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23:01 PM, 29th April 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 29/04/2024 - 13:38
That food for thought. I'm not in this situation it was just a thought that had occured.

Martin Ball

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12:17 PM, 30th April 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 29/04/2024 - 10:26
To make matters worse Portsmouth City Housing told my tenants that if they moved out before the bailiffs they had made themselves homeless and would go to the bottom of the housing list. Eventually got a S8 court order by which time there was over £4K arrears and industrial freezers and asbestos had been dumped at the property, on the day of leaving enormous amounts of damage was done including kicking the consumer unit off the wall. Never seen a penny back and cost £10K to put the property back into the newly renovated condition they moved in to, yes I did references, credit and employment checks, he lost his job when he was convicted of fly tipping. And we landlords are the bad people? 2 years on and I know I'll never see a penny back, the financial part of the possession order is about as much use as serving a section 21 notice to ask someone to vacate and is not a legal eviction notice as the press would have it. I know other small landlords who have had worse than me.

Mark Butler

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15:54 PM, 7th May 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul at 29/04/2024 - 10:31
Does not just apply to tenants on benefits Paul, it applies to ALL tenants..

A fedup landlord

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19:19 PM, 8th May 2024, About 5 months ago

Welyn council did call me to find out the reason for eviction, ie unpaid rent for over two months. my tenant supposedly get disability benefit, but nothing paid to them by universal credit, council supposed to call me back after speaking to universal credit, but they never did! universal credit won't tell me why they can't pay me directly, tenant told me they agree to pay me directly, but nothing come through. Court made an error on their decision, set their hearing in July. my tenancy agreement is dated prior to October 2015, should be a straightforward caes for granting a pocession, but they ask for a hearing based on their query on EPC certificate, even NLA advice line can't work out why other than court making a mistake. I now have over £5k rent over due and the amount is increasing week by week. Can someone tell me who I should speak to regarding my over due rent? If I default on my payment to the bank, bank wouldn't hesitate to issue me a repossession order!

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