Landlord organisation warns Renters’ Rights Bill is flawed and anti-tenant

A landlord organisation warns the Renters’ Rights Bill is “anti-tenant rather than pro-tenant.”

iHowz welcomes the immediate enactment of the Act, which has now become law, to end uncertainty for landlords and tenants but warns that the legislation is deeply flawed and could do more harm than good.

The association believes the student rental market will be hardest hit by the changes, particularly with the abolition of fixed-term tenancies.

Legislation is flawed

Peter Littlewood, chief executive of iHowz, says: “Although we are pleased the long wait is over. iHowz continues to believe this legislation is flawed and will actually prove to be anti-tenant, not pro-tenant as has been claimed.”

The association says the government is introducing an “incredibly complicated solution to a non-existent problem,” given that the student housing model has operated successfully for years.

Under the Renters’ Rights Bill, all fixed-term tenancies become periodic. iHowz warns this will lead to increased void periods as students can leave early, leaving landlords facing gaps of three or four months that may be impossible to fill.

The association claims this could force many landlords to exit the student rental market or completely re-jig their business operations.

Ultimate losers will be student tenants

iHowz warns that the ultimate losers will be student tenants, as private landlords leave the market and the only accommodation left will be expensive purpose-built student housing.

As previously reported by Property118, 23% of student beds in England, including London, now cost more than the maximum Maintenance Loan.

iHowz says that, with the bill having now received Royal Assent, the government must immediately publish a clear timetable for the Renters’ Rights Act, as landlords, particularly those in the student housing sector, need time to prepare for significant changes.