Complaining tenants are ‘twice as likely’ to be evicted – Shelter claims
3 years ago | 2 comments
Labour calls for a ‘Renters’ Charter’
10:47 AM, 3rd April 2023, 3 years ago
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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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3 years ago | 7 comments
More than half of rents in the PRS have risen in the last year
3 years ago | 10 comments
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
11:02 AM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 03/04/2023 – 12:54
https://www.gov.uk/private-renting/rent-increases
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
11:04 AM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 03/04/2023 – 18:28
Only because of who her “ex” sleeping partner was lol
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
11:07 AM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 04/04/2023 – 07:19
The important phrase is”by agreement” not forcibly
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
11:12 AM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by G Master at 04/04/2023 – 10:56
My BTLs are mortgage free and I’m getting out while I still can.
If Labour get in why would I want to discount a property’s selling price to a tenant under their proposed Right to Buy ?
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
11:14 AM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 04/04/2023 – 23:57
Trouble is we have no really viable 3rd option
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
11:18 AM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by boogleshq at 08/04/2023 – 09:22
As landlords, we all know why available rental property is down 38% since 2019, and that is accelerating as the attacks come thick and fast. But, the lack of affordable housing is not just the fault of this government. Yes, the ill-conceived ‘help-to-buy’ has probably been the biggest contributor to inflated new build prices, obscene developer profits, and leasehold scandal. But, councils grant planning permission, and many are Labour and Liberal controlled. They allow developers to avoid building until prices are right, and to get away with building lower percentages of ‘affordable’ [not] and social housing than should be required.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
11:21 AM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by boogleshq at 08/04/2023 – 09:22
It’s not the Government that has failed to supply/build affordable social housing but Local Authorities, it is their remit to do this. But haven’t.
Would be interesting to know which LA’s have been building and under which political flag they have a majority in the Council
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
11:22 AM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 08/04/2023 – 11:14
They are relying on that to maintain the 2 party cartel. On the basis that I don’t see much to choose between either, I see no reason why I shouldn’t vote Reform. After all, quite a few people vote LibDem, and that’s considered a wasted vote.
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 1102 - Articles: 1
11:55 AM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 08/04/2023 – 11:07Yes but that is rather different from saying that rent can only be increased annually, which perhaps should be qualified by adding the words “other than by agreement between the parties or by a provision in the tenancy agreement.”
It also overlooks the anecdotal evidence that some landlords will issue S21 notice if the tenant does not agree to a rent increase
Member Since September 2021 - Comments: 213
3:38 PM, 8th April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 03/04/2023 – 12:04
RE: Paying to view rental properties? That’s a new one. Does this really happen?
Was that a rhetorical question?
The answer, of course, is: No, it does not.
Unfortunately, I cannot be precise as to the time period, but historically some letting agents used to charge for supplying a list of available (To Let) properties to prospective tenants.
This was made illegal, and, I think, there may be a House of Lords decision on this point.
The lady is living in the past.