The government and councils moving the goalposts cause homelessness
1 year ago | 23 comments
Landlord group calls for a new national representative organisation
9:40 AM, 27th February 2025, 1 year ago
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A leading regional landlords’ association says it is time for a national proactive organisation that effectively represents landlords.
The call is being made by Paul Cunningham, chair of the Eastern Landlords’ Association, which represents landlords in East Anglia.
He fears that the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill could worsen homelessness and drive more landlords out of the PRS.
That would see a shrinking market and fewer housing options for tenants – and higher rents.
‘Landlords leaving the industry’
He told Property118: “There are a huge number of landlords leaving the industry mainly because they are fed up with how they are treated by this government.
“The bill is short sighted and could lead to a big rise in homelessness as demand for rented property will outstrip demand and there aren’t enough social properties.”
He adds: “The landlords who remain in the sector are likely to ask for a rent guarantor which could be a challenge for some prospective tenants as many landlords and agents insist that guarantors have to be homeowners.”
Mr Cunningham says he recently received 350 inquiries for a studio flat on the Norfolk coast – which highlights the intense competition for rented properties.
Landlords are not being represented
However, he also warns that landlords are not being represented effectively and is calling for a new landlord organisation to be created.
Mr Cunningham said: “If only the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), which is rapidly becoming pointless, actually had a voice both in government and the media.
“Until landlords have proper representation this poor representation of landlords will only get worse.”
He adds: “The NRLA actually agrees with the abolition of Section 21.
“Shelter speaks and the media are all over it – when the NRLA speaks, no one listens.
“It is time for a national proactive organisation to represent landlords more effectively.”
Could be law by the summer
The government’s Bill is currently making its way through the House of Lords and could be law by the summer.
The legislation will move tenancies to a ‘periodic’ model with no end date and will scrap six- and 12-month fixed-term agreements.
It also aims to outlaw section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions which currently allow landlords to remove tenants without giving a reason.
Mr Cunningham said: “The abolition of section 21 is unnecessary as landlords always have a reason for evicting tenants – there is always a reason.”
Tags:
Eastern Landlords Association, landlord representation, National Residential Landlords Association, NRLA, Paul Cunningham, PRS, renters rights bill, section 21 eviction, UK Landlord Issues
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Member Since June 2020 - Comments: 38
10:47 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by John Mac at 27/02/2025 – 09:53
The reason landlords do not join NRLA is because they do not fight hard enough – it seems they give up. Being reasonable doesn’t seem to work getting our point across.
In a recent property investment show Ben Beadle said,” it is his job to make the RRB palatable.”
I told him after the event that was not his job. It is to fight, tooth and nail for the rights and speak loudly everywhere and if need be, be belligerent as Generation Rent are, with their completely illogical arguments and made up facts. These holes are see through, why are those arguments not being exploited?
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 2002 - Articles: 21
10:49 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Luna at 27/02/2025 – 10:02Does anyone really think that a Labour Government favours companies? No, they just see that most tenants vote Labour and most landlords do not. Even though the Renters Rights Bill will make things much worse for landlords, as Paul Cunningham rightly says, they will press on.
Labour will have taken note of the kicking the Tories gave, since 2015, to their erstwhile most loyal supporters and see nothing wrong with donning hobnail boots to finish the job. They don’t favour corporates, they just hate private sector landlords, whether or not they have a pulse.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 2002 - Articles: 21
10:58 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Property One at 27/02/2025 – 10:47
Property One, I wish you were right. However, political lobbying does not work like that. Fighting tooth and nail against an issue that has the support of over 450 MPs (all Labour, Greens, Lib Dems and SNP and a few (useful idiot) CINOs, will get precisely nowhere.
By all means call out Shelter and Generation Rent’s nonsense arguments but realise that the wind is blowing in a different direction.
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 113
11:11 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 27/02/2025 – 10:58
Ah, well then you take a different approach!
Maybe you get the tenants on board and or you engage with the likes of GR and Shelter to explain what’s happening with regards to the responsible landlords.
Perhaps you come out with a strong campaign where you advise landlords to sell as it’s not now a viable business with the risks involved.
“Landlord group advise landlords to evict tenants and sell to support the government plans “
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 1102 - Articles: 1
11:37 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
This government and the last have been united in their determination to abolish S21.
Anyone who thinks the current ideologues will be deterred by a few landlords shouting at them is living in cloud cuckoo land.
The NRLA know that political lobbying is the art of the possible and that there is absolutely no point in flogging a dead horse.
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1590
11:41 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
The NRLA thrive on membership and courses. That’s why they support the RRB; it means more sakes of courses.
They probably want government to mandate that landlords are members of an association and mandated to do CPD.
We need a more militant organisation to challenge the legality of legislation.
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 15
11:51 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by John Mac at 27/02/2025 – 09:53John, you state “less than 5% of landlords are members of the NRLA”. Where do you get this figure from please?
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 1102 - Articles: 1
11:52 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 27/02/2025 – 11:41
You can’t “challenge the legality of legislation”, it’s a contradiction in terms.
Learn the lessons of the fruitless attempt to challenge S24 by judicial review.
Member Since January 2022 - Comments: 267
11:52 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Are the authors of the negative comments members of NRLA?
If not, why don’t you join and have your say within and make a difference?
Yes we could all do more to be heard
Yes I have often thought it would be sensible to get all or some of various bodies and LL and tenants to meet and thrash out their differences and try and make some progress.
Internal ‘ fighting’ is not the way forwards.
Is NRLA membership good value?
For me and my associate members I think I get good value. But I do make an effort to attend local meetings and the annual conference. But knowing I can speak to someone ( yes I am old fashioned and like to. Ask questions rather than emails etc) with knowledge relatively quickly As part of the annual fee Works for me. Do I like the recent annual membership increases no I Don’t.
But I speak to them at conferences, exhibitions and local meetings and explain my displeasure, which is where I get their feed back to defend their action or not.
We need to work together to strengthen our side not have in fighting.
Member Since October 2018 - Comments: 149
12:01 PM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Harry at 27/02/2025 – 11:51
As of January 2025, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) reported a membership exceeding 100,000 landlords.
NRLA.ORG.UK
In the 2021-2022 tax year, there were approximately 2.82 million unincorporated landlords in the UK.
PROPERTY118.COM
This suggests that NRLA members constitute about 3.5% of UK landlords.
Additionally, NRLA members own and manage around 10% of private rented housing in England and Wales, equating to approximately half a million properties.
COMMITTEES.PARLIAMENT.UK
It’s important to note that these figures may not account for all landlords, as some operate through corporate entities or may not be registered.