Why the Renters’ Rights Bill will create a ‘perfect’ tenant crisis for Labour
10 months ago | 18 comments
Landlord warns government legislation will leave tenants homeless
12:01 AM, 1st August 2025, 8 months ago
8
A landlord in Andover warns government legislation will make tenants homeless as landlords leave the private rented sector.
Speaking to the Andover Advertiser, landlord Maureen Treadwell calls on the government to focus on punishing bad landlords rather than good ones.
Ms Treadwell’s comments echo Property118’s interview with Paul Cunningham, chief executive of the Eastern Landlords Association, who accused the government of demonising landlords.
Call for common sense
Ms Treadwell warns many small landlords feel threatened by government legislation and are leaving the market.
She is calling on the government to work with rather than against landlords.
She tells the Andover Advertiser: “This isn’t a cry for sympathy, it’s a call for common sense. Landlords are part of the solution, not the problem.
“The government needs to stop treating us all the same, and instead focus its efforts on the real bad actors while supporting those who want to provide decent, affordable homes in their communities.”
Previously, Mr Cunningham told Property118 despite claims from both Labour and Conservative governments that they want to support landlords in the private rented sector, the reality is different.
He says: “I don’t think politicians give two hoots about private landlords as they wouldn’t have gone down the route of demonising us.”
More balanced conversation
Ms Treadwell adds: “I fully acknowledge that there are bad actors in our sector, but that’s not the whole story, and it’s time we had a more balanced conversation.”
She warns government legislation will make it impossible for low-income tenants to find a place to live.
She tells the Andover Advertiser: “In my experience, the vast majority of tenants are decent, hardworking people.
“Out of over 100 tenants I’ve rented to, only two have ever caused serious problems. In the past, if we had a good tenant, we would often let rents fall below market rates, 10 or 20 per cent wasn’t unusual. But that’s becoming impossible now.”
Renters’ Rights Bill proposes significant changes
In response to Ms Treadwell’s comments Councillor Kirsty North of Test Valley Borough council claims some landlords may sell up due to the Renters’ Rights Bill.
She says to the Andover Advertiser: “The Renters Rights Bill proposes significant changes and new regulations to the private rented sector.
“Although the changes are broadly positive for tenants, they do not come without the risk that some landlords will feel it is time to exit the market and sell their properties.”
Cllr North then claims the council has not seen a landlord exodus despite numerous evidence which suggests the opposite.
A report by The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) published this week warns landlords selling up is the biggest risk to renters.
She adds: “However, the council works closely with private landlords, supporting them to provide good homes to residents, and we haven’t yet seen a significant number of landlords exit the market.
“Support and advice for both landlords and tenants will always be available from Test Valley Borough Council.
“We have a dedicated landlord support initiative programme and will soon be organising our next landlords forum.”
Tags:
government housing policy, government legislation, government punishing landlords, housing crisis, landlord exodus, renters rights bill, tenants homeless
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Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
11:25 AM, 1st August 2025, About 8 months ago
He speaks great words
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2188 - Articles: 2
11:28 AM, 1st August 2025, About 8 months ago
No government has the concept of working with any individual or group, its all stick, £40,000 fines for admin errors, and no carrot.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3508 - Articles: 5
11:38 AM, 1st August 2025, About 8 months ago
interesting stats released recently. A bit of a slog to read through as poor explanation of the numbers, but reading between the lines it clearly shows PRS LL have been gaining possessions to sell up. (take a look at your own government stats Pennycook!)
Highlights the rise in applications for housing relief and housing duty, with the reasons for the application.
What really annoys me is the breakdown of reason when it talks of S21. (see section 5.1)
” In July to September 2024, four in ten households (14,720) were assessed as owed a prevention duty due to the ‘end of a private rented AST’, 0.5% fewer than the same period in 2023.
Almost half of these (46.7% or 6,880) resulted from the ‘landlord wishing to sell the property’ and a further fifth (19.0%, 2,800) from ‘landlord wishing to relet the property’”
IMPOSSIBLE to determine…we all know no reason has to be given nor written on the S21 form so where has this ‘evidence’ come from????
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statutory-homelessness-in-england-july-to-september-2024/statutory-homelessness-in-england-july-to-september-2024
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3508 - Articles: 5
11:44 AM, 1st August 2025, About 8 months ago
Jan – March 2025 specifics
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statutory-homelessness-in-england-january-to-march-2025/statutory-homelessness-in-england-january-to-march-2025
Member Since June 2015 - Comments: 330
1:01 PM, 1st August 2025, About 8 months ago
Lots of different issues get swirled into the mix and some completely bizarre conclusions can be drawn from the outcome. Statistics can be found to support any viewpoint anyone wants to promote.
Simple fact is a great many landlords are getting old. We are getting to the point where we are encountering serious health problems or dying. Selling is often essential in those circumstances.
The current taxation and regulation of the PRS is unattractive to potential new younger landlords. When many of us started out we were simply people who were willing to risk our savings to provide a home that someone who didn’t have savings or who didn’t want to commit to an area could rent. There wasn’t this whole nanny state assumption that tenants were inept human beings that needed to be endlessly protected from life.
The Renters Rights Bill has some serious flaws. Has anyone actually consulted mortgage lenders about the change to tenancy agreements as the current proposals breach many mortgage conditions?
It’s all just got too contentious. I’m proud of having provided homes for hundreds of people for as long as they want them. However, I’m highly unlikely to ever relet any of my self contained units when people move out or die. I don’t plan to evict anyone but those homes will be lost from the PRS so won’t be available for future tenants.
Ten years ago my son intended to take over the running of the business as we got older. Now he regards it as completely toxic and not something he wants too much involvement with.
So the government has left us with little choice. Either we sell up while we’re alive or our executors sell up when we die. Either way it’s not great news for tenants.
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2188 - Articles: 2
3:38 PM, 1st August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Jo Westlake at 01/08/2025 – 13:01
” Statistics can be found to support any viewpoint anyone wants to promote.”
Hence my favourite statistical quote:-
“Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.”
Aaron Levenstein
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
5:28 PM, 1st August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 01/08/2025 – 11:28I’ve been mentioning this to Licensing last few weeks.
I’ve said u on another planet. U send a letter to a Landlord who’s done nothing wrong and in this letter, u use the worse Prohibitive.
£30,000 Civil Penalty
Banning order.
Warrant to enter.
How does that Landlord feel?
They ring me up worried and fretting and THEY’VE DONE NOTHING WRONG. They now selling. U causing homeless.
Nottingham Council said they will look at changing the first introductory letters. They won’t
Member Since October 2024 - Comments: 11
5:29 PM, 1st August 2025, About 8 months ago
“claims the council has not seen a landlord exodus”
Unfortunately the people who trot out this line always seem to be ignorant of the fact the exodus isn’t a stampede but a long drawn out withdrawal with many LL awaiting tenant departures before selling.
However the result of this will be a complete dearth of available properties to rent for many years to come.