Labour calls for a ‘Renters’ Charter’

Labour calls for a ‘Renters’ Charter’

10:47 AM, 3rd April 2023, About A year ago 103

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Labour MP Diane Abbott appeared on ITV’s ‘Good Morning Britain’ today (Monday) to push for a renters’ charter that will help protect tenants.

The segment highlighted that the number of available homes for renting in the UK has dropped by a third in the last 18 months – but rent prices have seen a 20% increase in the last three years.

Now, Ms Abbott is calling on the government to encourage more responsible private landlords.

‘One of the problems of stratospheric rents’

She said: “Rents are stratospheric and one of the problems of stratospheric rents is that a lot of younger people are not going to be able to buy because every penny is going on rent.

“With landlords, we want to encourage good landlords, but we want to bear down on bad landlords.”

When asked what a bad landlord is by the presenter Kate Garraway, Ms Abbott replied: “A bad landlord is somebody that first of all uses the no-fault eviction to get you out, and a bad landlord is someone who puts up the rent every six months, every three months and that is what is causing renters so many problems.

“There’s no certainty because bad landlords just want to exploit the market.”

Government is set to end Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions

Ms Garraway highlighted that the government is set to end Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, but Ms Abbott said there was no sign of the legislation.

She added: “It’s not down for debate in Parliament and a Labour government would put an end to no-fault evictions.”

Co-presenter Richard Madeley then asked Ms Abbott about the anecdotal stories of landlords charging potential tenants just to view a property.

Ms Abbott said: “They are now charging just to look at a property, some of them are charging a relatively small amount, £30, but some of them are charging hundreds of pounds.”

Ms Garraway said that a programme journalist had investigated and could find no evidence that landlords are charging potential tenants to view a property, other than in one or two anecdotal cases.

She added that the law, since 2020, has made the paying of these fees illegal and asked Ms Abbott where she was getting her evidence.

Accepted that hers was anecdotal evidence

Ms Abbott accepted that hers was anecdotal evidence and there was no survey evidence but ‘a lot of estate agents’ are saying that tenants are being charged and ‘this is something that needs to be cracked down on’.

Ms Abbott continued: “One of the things a Labour government would do is to bring in a renters’ charter and one of the things that would say is in no circumstances can landlords charge just to view a property.”

The presenter highlighted that there is already a law to prevent this from happening, so there would be no reason to bring in a law to deal with the issue but Ms Abbott replied: “But it doesn’t seem to be biting, does it? Because you hear too much anecdotal evidence, certainly in London, of people charging to view.”

This is the interview on Twitter from Good Morning Britain with Ms Abbott.


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Comments

G Master

8:17 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 04/04/2023 - 07:19
Is there a draft document available for us to use to vary the payments?

Blodwyn

8:23 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

Has Diane Abbott been asked if her 'anecdotal evidence' is a figment of imagination that, if told often enough, becomes the accepted truth?
If she or her representative ever reads this, will they tell us please?

Kalvinder Bhogal

8:47 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 04/04/2023 - 07:19
CALLS FOR SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS. Increase landlord incentives to promote more rental properties. Why do all these silly corrupt politicians choose to ignore this obvious fact?

ICEMAN

9:06 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

No point arguing with people who know nothing... They will bring you down to their level of stupidity with a wealth experience.

Tenants and country will suffer... And they will be thabkful for it

Mr.A

9:12 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

If these Labour idiots get into power , the PRS is finished.

Blodwyn

9:37 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

In quick comment to Mr A above, Labour are very likely (never a certainty!!) going to get in because the Govt are doing their current best to make this happen?

NewYorkie

10:16 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 04/04/2023 - 07:19The key here is 'with the tenant's agreement'. Also, increases should be fair and reasonable, which means in line with local averages. The problem is, many landlords have allowed their good tenants to drop way below the average, and they now can't withstand a large increase. I'm sure there are landlords out there who are ratcheting up rents unfairly, and they should be targeted. Most are reasonable, and like me, applying reasonable annual increases, but still subsidising tenants until they can sell up and leave the PRS.

Beaver

10:17 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

I don't know who is going to get in. If you read what's said:

"Ms Abbott is calling on the government to encourage more responsible private landlords..." then that's not an unreasonable thing to say. It's just that she doesn't appear to know anything about it. Saying for example that you're automatically a bad landlord if you've used the no-fault eviction process is nonsense.

I think that what they need is a Tenants and Landlords Charter with reciprocity in it. This is what a good landlord does, this is what a good tenant does.

NewYorkie

10:17 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 04/04/2023 - 07:19
The key here is 'with the tenant's agreement'. Also, increases should be fair and reasonable, which means in line with local averages. The problem is, many landlords have allowed their good tenants to drop way below the average, and they now can't withstand a large increase. I'm sure there are landlords out there who are ratcheting up rents unfairly, and they should be targeted. Most are reasonable, and like me, subsidising tenants until they can sell up and leave the PRS.

Luke P

10:47 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 04/04/2023 - 10:17
Indeed that is what we *should* have, but this is the reality of what we will get (not the parts about mandatory allowance in pets and tenants making ‘reasonable’ alterations to the property, with any making-good being down to the LL…devil will be in the detail, of course). Also, don’t make the mistake if assuming any government *want* to make things right/fair - the just don’t want a problem at their door…and that’s because they are not *of* us, but rather are a separate entity with their own self-serving goals, which are often against us. Anyone who misspends their benefit (taxpayer money) and subsequently is evicted should be left to fend for themselves, but we always pick up the pieces:

https://www.mortgagesforbusiness.co.uk/news-insight/2023/february/what-s-different-about-labour-s-renters-charter/

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