Labour ‘demonises landlords’ and will empower tenants

Labour ‘demonises landlords’ and will empower tenants

9:35 AM, 27th September 2022, About 2 years ago 33

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Labour has unveiled plans to deliver a new renters’ charter and a decent homes standard for the country’s private rental sector.

But the criticism at the party’s conference in Liverpool of private landlords has been slammed by one organisation as ‘demonising all landlords’.

Lisa Nandy, the shadow secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities & Local Government, told the conference: “For private renters, we will tilt the balance of power back to you through a powerful new renters’ charter and a new decent homes standard – written into law.

“Because security in your home, the right to make your home your own and most of all the right to live in a home fit for human habitation is non-negotiable.”

Renters’ Charter to give private tenants new powers

While she didn’t give details in her speech, Ms Nandy did give an interview to the Mirror in which she pledged to deliver a Renters’ Charter that will give private tenants new powers in the first 100 days of a Labour government.

This would include the end of automatic evictions for rent arrears and abolishing no-fault evictions.

The charter will also include the right for tenants to have pets, to make reasonable alterations to a property and introduce a four month notice period for landlords.

Labour is also promising to create a national register of landlords and a legally binding decent homes standard.

They will also look at ways to make tenancy deposits ‘more portable’.

There is also expected to be a consultation with landlords and tenant groups on how to ‘stabilise rent increases’.

‘My priority to tackle the housing crisis’

In her speech, Ms Nandy said: “I will make it my priority to tackle the housing crisis because nothing, nothing is more important than a home.

“The Tories have turned housing into a racket.

“Incentivising speculation and profiteering while millions languish on waiting lists in cold damp homes.

“So, we will mend the deliberate vandalism of our social housing stock.”

She said that Labour would be the first government in a generation to restore social housing to the second largest form of tenure.

This will be, she added, ‘Our mantra’.

‘Labour Party is once again demonising all landlords’

Ben Beadle, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords’ Association, said: “It is depressing that the Labour Party is once again demonising all landlords.

“The vast majority do a good job, providing a fifth of all housing in the country.

“That is why private tenants are more likely to be satisfied with their accommodation than those in the social rented sector.”

‘What Labour is proposing will seriously damage confidence’

He added: “The combined effects of what Labour is proposing, in particular essentially making rent payments an optional extra, will seriously damage confidence and with it, the supply of homes to rent when demand is already high.

“Tenants will suffer in the long run.

“The reality is that promises of new social housing at some distant point in the future will do nothing to help renters struggling today.”


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Comments

CMS

5:55 AM, 28th September 2022, About 2 years ago

Exactly how do they think this will solve the housing crisis? All this will do is cause more landlord's to rethink and, in alot of instances, likely sell up and reduce the already depleted number of rental properties available.

People will still need housing so will have to look towards trying to buy a house. This increase in demand coupled with the Govt having to make borrowing/buying easier, will simply push up house prices and make property purchasing even more unattainable for the next generation.

I do wish they would just think through the potential consequences of their proposals as opposed just spouting what they feel will win votes!

Mick Roberts

6:32 AM, 28th September 2022, About 2 years ago

Well said @BeadleBen Can we ask @lisanandy what she doing for good tenants that have 0 problems?

Cause can be sure all those of mine, many been with me 20 years paying £500pm when surrounding rents r £850pm, will be increased to keep up with your attacks.

https://twitter.com/MickRobertsBoss/status/1574655232898109440?t=7GEepIde4jYhd2tF0NGI7A&s=19

steve136

9:04 AM, 28th September 2022, About 2 years ago

"This would include the end of automatic evictions for rent arrears"

There has got to be more nuance to this statement, surely it has to be something like rent arrear of 1-3 months otherwise well whos going to pay rent, ever, if you can just sit there and continue living in the property!?

CMS

9:43 AM, 28th September 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by steve136 at 28/09/2022 - 09:04
Exactly. Its just another 'headline policy' that in truth they couldn't possibly bring in legislation that does exactly what their headline purports to do.

Freda Blogs

17:07 PM, 28th September 2022, About 2 years ago

Idiots.

Don't they get the point that this is the PRIVATE rented sector, not the SOCIAL rented sector.

Any private LL has the right to exit and sell. Who in their right mind would hang around with the extremely onerous provisions being suggested here, particularly in a period of rising costs and diminishing returns.

Reluctant Landlord

18:01 PM, 28th September 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Kam Ahluwalia at 27/09/2022 - 21:20
,,,they wont need to stop LL's from buying properties first...none of us will want to buy anyway if this is what we are up against if we do!

Lets see every current rental tenant break their neck as they all dive into estate agents looking through the amazing surplus of properties available and then banks selling cheap FTB mortgages shall we....? thought not!

Bruce Brown

13:41 PM, 1st October 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by LaLo at 27/09/2022 - 11:35
Unfortunately this is correct, the extreme left wing loony snp and their communist partners in crime the scottish greens are intent on finishing off the prs in scotland.It is promoted as a"temporary" move during the financial crisis but will no doubt be made permanent.Incidentally the students at st andrews university are on strike because there is virtually no accomodation available.Don't suppose this could be connected by any chance?I was about to buy a couple of rental properties but have gone into commercial instead.

Old Mrs Landlord

14:47 PM, 1st October 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Richie at 27/09/2022 - 22:35Well Councils are too cash-strapped to build with their own funds and many can't borrow because of a record of poor past decisions such as investing in Icelandic banks which went bust. In our nearest town the unitary authority bought up shopping centres just as footfall was dropping and online retail taking off. Then Covid came along and compounded the inevitable losses. Local councillors are not investment experts! One reason for the original sell-off of council houses is that they were proving expensive to maintain and tenants were not always reliable rent-payers. It was calculated that letting private landlords take on those costs and risks would save public money. Bear in mind also that the new staff councils would need to take on to manage the extra housing would all need to have their generous pensions funded by council tax payers.

Bobby Taylor

18:23 PM, 3rd October 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by LaLo at 27/09/2022 - 11:35This was announced on 6/9/22 and made law the same day ie NO RENT INCREASE AND NO EVICTIONS from 6th sept 22until March 2023 and will be reviewed then . BE WARNED ! (Scotland ) this will happen everywhere I’m convinced .

Sheralyne Stamp

19:25 PM, 3rd October 2022, About 2 years ago

Ridiculous
As well as landlords selling up they will put letting agents out of business.
I am a small letting agent( not estate agent) so if this goes ahead they will put me out of business.
Yet they are encouraging people to start up businesses to help economic. WHAT A JOKE

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