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0:06 AM, 30th June 2023, About 11 months ago 14
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The potential rise in evictions means the government must immediately introduce the Labour Party’s Private Renters’ Charter to help protect tenants.
Labour’s call follows Shadow housing secretary, Lisa Nandy, announcing that Labour would not introduce a rent freeze – despite her support of the move last September.
Key stipulations of the charter include putting an end to no-fault evictions, extending notice periods before repossession and introducing a code of conduct for letting agents.
Labour is also warning that the combination of the Tory’s mortgage policies and soaring inflation could hit renters hard, jeopardising their housing security.
Ms Nandy said: “While ministers and Tory MPs argue amongst themselves, renters are left in limbo waiting for basic reforms that are long overdue and grappling with the fallout from the Tory mortgage bombshell.
“Labour will never treat renters as second-class citizens. We will make renting fairer, more secure and more affordable with our renters’ charter.
“We will scrap no-fault evictions, introduce a four-month notice period for landlords, a national register of landlords, and a suite of new rights for tenants – including the right to make alterations to your home, the right to request speedy repairs, and the right to have pets.”
Labour has raised fears that more than three million tenants are feeling the brunt of what they term as the ‘Tory failure to protect renters’ in England.
The party is now urging Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take a stand against his own MPs, following rumours that up to 50 of them might oppose measures proposed under the Renters’ Reform Bill.
Introduced to Parliament in May, the Bill seeks to abolish no-fault evictions and simplify the process for landlords to reclaim their properties from ‘irresponsible’ renters.
The promise to banish no-fault evictions, also known as Section 21, was a pledge made in the Conservative manifesto back in 2019 but it could be next year before the Bill becomes law.
A Conservative spokesperson told Sky News: “Keir Starmer has u-turned on everything from rental reform to protecting the green belt. On housing, like any other policy issue, the British people can’t trust Keir Starmer to keep his word.
“Only the Conservatives are improving tenants’ rights, protecting our green spaces and delivering the right homes in the right places, as we continue to deliver on the people’s priorities by halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting NHS waiting lists and stopping the boats.”
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “The Renters (Reform) Bill, which has begun its progress through Parliament, delivers the 2019 manifesto commitment of ‘a better deal for renters’.
“Reforms will strengthen protections for both renters and landlords – abolishing so-called ‘no fault’ section 21 evictions, while strengthening landlords’ rights of possession.
“Tenants will benefit from greater security and quality of housing, and landlords will find it easier to get rid of anti-social tenants or those wilfully not paying rent.
“We remain committed to creating a private rented sector that works for responsible landlords and tenants and holding those abusing the current system to account.”
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Tenant refusing to leave?
philip allen
17:44 PM, 1st July 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Phil T at 01/07/2023 - 09:16
Can I ask who you are selling to? Given that most landlords are currently selling or threatening to sell, who's buying? Not first time buyers as they can't afford the deposits or the mortgage rates, not other landlords as they are too busy 'selling' what they already have and certainly not the BTR brigade who are only interested in tenants that are young, single, gainfully employed and, therefore, not taking benefits. Where is the buying market please?
Raymond Foulkes
10:12 AM, 2nd July 2023, About 11 months ago
There are 1.5 million people unemployed and claiming benefit in England. We should employ that resource to build sustainable social / affordable housing and green energy infrastructure and stop forcing landlords to be the Government's default social housing provider.
'Printing / creating' the money to pay for that is not inflationary as it creates the assets to back the extra money in circulation, unlike when it is printed / created to pay for a financial bailout / pay for war / pay people to stay at home and do nothing, as we did in the pandemic and with unemployment benefit in general.
That would increase our skill base, give (otherwise unemployed) people a purpose and hope, in life, help to save the environment help to free us from energy dependency on other countries - like Russia.
Urban gardens are better for wildlife and, therefore biodiversity, than sterilised agricultural land and we could follow Holland's example of hydroponic cultivation to boost local food production and more than compensate for the loss of a few farmers' fields. - So simple.
Ian Narbeth
12:27 PM, 4th July 2023, About 11 months ago
As a landlord I might agree to certain alterations. For example putting in equipment or making access easier for a tenant who has become infirm or disabled. I might even upgrade or replace kitchen units or a bathroom suite.
If a tenant requests a bespoke alteration some landlords might agree to it subject to conditions. Either (A) the tenant pays the cost and the work is carried out by the landlord's contractor or overseen by the landlord or his agent or (B) at present the parties might agree to increase the rent to amortise the cost over a year or so. For example a replacement kitchen or bathroom suite could be financed in this way.
With the abolition of fixed term tenancies, the parties cannot in law agree that the tenant will stay for a sufficient period to amortise the cost.
Yet again, it's Lose Lose. Tenants lose and Landlords lose.
Reluctant Landlord
13:00 PM, 4th July 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 04/07/2023 - 12:27
B) at present the parties might agree to increase the rent to amortise the cost over a year or so. For example a replacement kitchen or bathroom suite could be financed in this way.
Even if you agree this with the existing tenant who's to say they will pay it when push comes to shove? How so you even get this 'formally agreed'? Assume as this agreement would be external to the existing contract, if the tenant did not pay the extra rent for this, you would be hard pushed to use a S8 as its technically a temporary rent increase?
In the present time, personally spending £5 - 8k day for a bathroom or kitchen update/similar on the promise that a tenant agrees to pay is concerning surely?