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

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

9:30 AM, 2nd July 2024, About 3 months ago 20

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In the wake of the 4 July election, landlord groups say the next government must pass the Renters (Reform) Bill as a matter of ‘urgency’.

The plea is being made by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), along with Leaders Romans Group, Grainger, and the British Property Federation (BPF).

They say that landlords and tenants need certainty on rental reform and the next government must make reform of the private rented sector (PRS) a priority.

The statement comes after the NRLA’s election campaign to highlight issues facing landlords in the sector.

‘Uncertainty over plans to end Section 21’

The organisations say: “Renters, landlords and letting agents have faced five years of uncertainty over plans to end Section 21 ‘no fault’ repossessions.

“With all the main parties’ manifestos committed to delivering rental reform, it’s time to bring the issue to a conclusion.

“Only this approach will enable the sector to look forward and unlock the investment in new housing that renters desperately need and deserve.”

‘Renters (Reform) Bill to end Section 21’

The statement continues: “The Renters (Reform) Bill to end Section 21 was well on its way through Parliament before the election with broad support, and Labour has said it could have ‘happily’ agreed it in the ‘wash up’ period.

“The best way for the next government to achieve their objectives would be to resurrect this Bill as a matter of urgency.”


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Mike Thomas

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21:09 PM, 2nd July 2024, About 3 months ago

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.

Stella

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23:50 PM, 2nd July 2024, About 3 months ago

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)

PAUL BARTLETT

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8:14 AM, 3rd July 2024, About 3 months ago

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

Not me!

Karen Young

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8:51 AM, 3rd July 2024, About 3 months ago

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

Reluctant Landlord

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9:07 AM, 3rd July 2024, About 3 months ago

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.

Rod

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15:09 PM, 3rd July 2024, About 3 months ago

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

Reluctant Landlord

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16:17 PM, 3rd July 2024, About 3 months ago

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.....

Reluctant Landlord

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16:30 PM, 3rd July 2024, About 3 months ago

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...

The Barefoot Landlord

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7:41 AM, 6th July 2024, About 3 months ago

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.

Judith Wordsworth

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9:15 AM, 6th July 2024, About 3 months ago

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.

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