Landlord groups call for ‘urgent’ return of the Renters (Reform) Bill

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 02/07/2024 – 12:42
The NRLA aren’t promoting the bill, ostensibly because they the removal of S21 is a done deal, but in truth Ben Beadle is concentrating on getting the amendments through for student lets that will help him, and sod the members.

To soften the blow we were originally told not to worry that getting our property back if we want to sell was going to be a mandatory ground but as it transpired this could not be further from the truth.

Unfortunately a lot of people still seem to think that if this RRB became law that there would have been a mandatory ground to have vacant possession to sell up.
However this is not the case because it would only have been a discretionary ground.

Mike you are spot on the NRLA seem to have concentrated on amendments to student lets but IMHO they should also have given consideration to other types of lets and to the importance of having a mandatory ground for possession when we need to sell.

If our only option would be to sell with a sitting tenant then we would have no option but to sell at well below market value (I experienced this in 1984 when I tried to sell a flat with a sitting tenant)

Reply to the comment left by Mike Thomas at 02/07/2024 – 21:09
Who wants “government to achieve their objectives”?

Not me!

The Renters Reform bill is a nightmare for me as a landlord. The removal of fixed term means I have no security if tenure. The set up costs to rent out our flat are almost the months rent. It takes the year to recoup them. I take my role as landlord very seriously and I do my utmost to ensure my tenant is happy. I respond immediately to any concerns and sort them out swiftly.
Periodic contracts give me as a landlord no security. We want flexibility of having either the six or 12 month contract.. we have run out flat at a loss for 2 years and want to sell it but the market is so slow. If the renters reform act is passed and periodic contracts come in as soon as we put our flat on the market the tenant will look for somewhere else and move out leaving us with no income to cover the mortgage and a huge accruing monthly loss until we sell. We bought our flat in 2007 to supplement our pension instead it’s been a nightmare and money pit.

It’s been proven that few landlords are unscrupulous most are like us , honest and care about the happiness of their tenants.

Please remove the periodic contracts and go back to fixed term for the first 12 months. This gives tenants and landlords security.

The Government wants to straight jacket landlords. It’s so worrying

Reply to the comment left by Karen Young at 03/07/2024 – 08:51I on the other hand never offer 12 mth contracts because it means I’m tied in far too long if T goes rogue within that timespan.
I only offer 6 month and then rolling, but yes the issue still remains – no fixed min term means T’s can potentially flip flop and you do take a voids/set up cost hit when it happens.
At the end of the day like others have said all it means is rents increase and with that supply will dwindle, (even if LL’s can’t sell properties they will leave empty so at least vacant which is more appealing to potential buyers) so I guess less change for T’s to flip, as the reality is there will be less places available for them to do this.
Key to the offer of any tenancy going forward will be very strict referencing and confirming past rental history, along with securing a guarantor.

If any T presents with any negative history (credit or referencing) or lack of it, then LL’s simply wont take the risk.

In a recent announcement, it has been proposed that we no longer call ourselves landlords.
https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/nrla-to-drop-landlord-in-bid-to-change-public-perception-of-sector

Today, iHowz were at the London National Landlord Investment show on the panel answering landlords burning questions as we await the election.

iHowz will be lobbying the new government for:
– urgent action on court delays
– retention of the ability to serve notice without need for court approval
– retention of a standard 6 month initial term, with the option of both parties to agree a longer fixed term

Reply to the comment left by Rod at 03/07/2024 – 15:09
so what’s an alternative ‘title’?
Whipping boy?
Scapegoat?
Non consensual Social housing provider?

I haven’t called myself a LL for years. Property management is fundamentally what I do. I manage properties first and foremost allowing the tenant with the best fit to rent them from me. Yes its purposely clinical as its a contractual arrangement at the end of the day. A lot more ‘LL’s’ I suspect are, by default, going to change the way they see themselves if they stay in the PRS. It’s getting to be all tickboxes, legislation, licencing and blame and its only going one way…..

Reply to the comment left by Rod at 03/07/2024 – 15:09
I think the WHOLE push from the PRS has to be going for the neck on the court process and delays to possession. If Labour want to scrap S21 because they think every LL claim has to be clearly defined (to stop ‘unjust evictions’), then by default they know the impact this will have. It wont stop genuine possession claims being made, only further clog up the system to get timely possession. If that happens, the genuine LL’s less likely to bother to rent in the first place.

There will still be LL’s that remove tenants ‘the old fashioned way’ regardless of what happens with S21 etc. The chances are this will only increase…

It looks like the nrla have been captured, no longer representing the landlords viewpoint. Asking for the renters reform bill to be brought in feels like turkeys voting for Xmas. Landlords need to be cognicent of the macro economy to survive and labour are simply globalist followers of agenda 2030, it’s going to be collectivists versus individualists for the next few years.

The NLRA need to be made aware who pays their salaries and whose corner they should be in.

Personally I think the NLRA has got too big for it’s boots, has lost its focus – though the cynic in me thinks their attitude re the old Renters Reform Bill could make them a lot of money for several expensive courses that they love to run.

I have never been a member, nor would I. If I was I’d be smartly cancelling my membership and looking elsewhere for assistance like Pims.co.uk. Not only every form you need but brilliant advice and no selling of expensive courses.