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10:30 AM, 23rd October 2023, About 7 months ago 18
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Some Conservative MPs who are landlords have threatened to vote against the Government’s Renters (Reform) Bill, which would ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions of tenants, the Telegraph has revealed.
The rebels claim that the policy is ‘unconservative’ and will drive landlords out of the market, reducing the supply of private rented accommodation.
The Bill, drafted by Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, is due for its second reading in the Commons today (Monday 23 Oct).
It seeks to abolish Section 21 evictions, which allow landlords to repossess their properties without having to prove any wrongdoing by the tenants.
However, the Bill has faced opposition from many Tory backbenchers, who see it as anti-landlord and believe it will harm their voters.
According to research published earlier this year, 87 MPs earn an income from residential property, of which 68 are Conservatives – about one-fifth of Tory MPs.
Marco Longhi, the MP for Dudley North, said he felt unable to support the Bill in its current form.
He told the Telegraph: “If I am forced to vote I will be voting against this, and it will be the first time I vote against a position the Government has taken.
“I am a landlord, so I do declare an interest.
“But I have got an in-depth knowledge of how the market functions.”
He added: “Not only is this very bad for landlords, as exemplified by how much landlords are leaving the market in their droves – for this very reason it’s also a terrible deal for tenants.”
Mr Longhi said that fellow MP landlords were considering their position and said: “There are many MPs who are landlords, of all [political] colours.
“A lot of these are privately saying to me, just as the many landlords I know out there in the marketplace, that they are leaving the market.”
He said the reduction in housing supply would ‘just increase demand’ and rents ‘even further’.
He added: “The whole approach from a political perspective is very unconservative.”
Another Tory backbencher, who is not a landlord, said they had heard similar from colleagues who own rental properties and he said: “Those who are small landlords are very adamant of the view that it is very damaging and in some cases, they might want to give up.”
The MP said there were ’30, 40 people I’ve heard about who are pretty cross about the whole thing’.
One former minister planning to vote against the Bill said the Government was in a state of ‘torpor’.
He told the Telegraph: “We’ve still got a majority of 60 and look at our legislative programme.
“The Renters (Reform) Bill could be introduced by Keir Starmer, it’s a Labour Party Bill.
“It’s the worst pieties of the Left who think if you regulate landlords, you make life better for tenants, and you don’t.
“It alienates our voters.”
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C-cider
18:34 PM, 23rd October 2023, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 23/10/2023 - 14:25
That’s interesting.
In essence, Section 21 caused the current housing crisis by allowing one generation to buy all of the houses that the next generation would have wanted to buy.
Monty Bodkin
18:42 PM, 23rd October 2023, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by C-cider at 23/10/2023 - 18:34
"In essence, Section 21 caused the current housing crisis"
Nonsense. The Private Rental Sector was the only part of the housing not in crisis. The PRS is not to blame for the failures elsewhere.
David Smith
19:14 PM, 23rd October 2023, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 23/10/2023 - 18:42
The current housing crisis was caused by successive Labour and Conservative governments not building enough homes.
The PRS simply filled that essential void which is vital to the country’s economy.
Mr Blueberry
19:19 PM, 23rd October 2023, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 23/10/2023 - 12:52
Yes, Stella, I do agree that the landlord should be able to sell or pass his investment onto his family without hindrance. But even as a landlord myself it does seem unfair for a tenant with a family to be shifted on every year when the landlord has no real reason to sell or pass onto his immediate family.
Monty Bodkin
20:11 PM, 23rd October 2023, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Mr Blueberry at 23/10/2023 - 19:19
"But even as a landlord myself it does seem unfair for a tenant with a family to be shifted on every year when the landlord has no real reason to sell or pass onto his immediate family."
Because without that very basic right, landlords don't invest, don't build, don't renovate and short term landlords just leave properties empty.
This whole bill is centred on 'no fault' evictions being unfair but there's no thought of the consequences.
Crouchender
22:24 PM, 23rd October 2023, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 23/10/2023 - 20:11
The big picture here is when Labour get in next year it is frightening what they plan to introduce as the shadow housing minister said in his closing speech on the second reading. A couple I noted below. Nothing about balancing LLs need...
RRB is just a start
4 months notice period for tenants to vacate for S8 grounds
RRO for non decent homes!
It will be hell under Labour and this bill will go through with Labour votes. How embarrassing!.
Reluctant Landlord
9:40 AM, 24th October 2023, About 7 months ago
I just thought. If the RRB does go down the route of no min term tenancies and also (for example) Labour then decide (if they win) to add in 4 months notice required - how does that work? Sounds like the LL could be able to serve notice (under S8 if S21 abolished) the day after the tenant takes up the tenancy! If there is no minimum contractual term....
Trapped Landlord
10:05 AM, 24th October 2023, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Crouchender at 23/10/2023 - 22:24
Its looking a certainty that labour are incoming and i do find myself thinking what they may come with. Ideas so far include, nationwide selective licensing, rent controls, national insurance slapped on unearned income, compulsory purchase orders on anything deemed to be uninhabitable, minimum epc requirements upped to 'b' grade, right to buy your rented home, succession tenancy rights, unlimited fines for anyone deemed to be rogue. Blimey, i think i need a stiff drink.