Landlords feel unfairly penalised – but tenants want more regulation

Landlords feel unfairly penalised – but tenants want more regulation

0:01 AM, 22nd December 2022, About A year ago 19

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A survey has revealed the gap in how landlords and tenants see the private rented sector – with most landlords saying they feel unfairly penalised, but tenants want more regulation.

The findings from Market Financial Solutions (MFS) found that 63% of landlords feel that the Government has introduced too much regulation.

However, 73% of tenants say they need better protection and want tighter regulation.

The survey of 2,000 adults also found that 65% of landlords feel not just being penalised but targeted by the Government.

Improve the standard of rental properties

The specialist lender’s survey also shows that 74% of tenants want more to be done to improve the standard of rental properties – and 78% say they should claim rent back if they live in poor quality accommodation.

Unsurprisingly, in the face of a cost-of-living crisis, 77% also want rent price controls and there is strong support for multi-year, long-term lets with 69% of tenants saying they should be more of these tenancies.

And plans by the government to abolish section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions – as revealed in the Queen’s Speech this year – has strong support from tenants with 62% saying the government is right to ban them.

‘There is some discord between landlords and tenants’

Paresh Raja, the CEO of MFS, said: “Clearly, there is some discord between landlords and tenants on the topic of further regulation in the private rental sector.

“With rents rising, tenants obviously feel that not enough is being done to protect renters, with many showing clear support for rent controls and tenants being able to claim money back if their accommodation is not of a high enough standard.

“That said, the influx of regulations in the past decade has left a majority of landlords feeling unfairly targeted.”

‘We need a buoyant rental market’

He added: “We must work to strike a careful balance – we need a buoyant rental market, so squeezing landlords too tightly might result in a greater number of poor quality or empty rental properties.

“In a market that’s already grappling with an undersupply of properties and an ever-growing demand, this could have detrimental ramifications for rental prices in the future.

“As such, the Government must tread a fine line between protecting renters and disincentivising landlords.”


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Comments

C CA

21:39 PM, 22nd December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 22/12/2022 - 09:36
You nailed beautifully !!!

The government at all level is the biggest problem as the play politic with somebody else work and money.

Including the uncaring social housing where the agency theory fully applies.....Social housing bosses make a fortune and the their marketing and take over other has massive budget because by getting bigger more money can make but maintenance is secondary concern.

What is more amazing is that tenants and the "Charities pro Tenants" only attach PRS LL than concentrating energy to force governments to building more houses. I guess is cheaper blaming others than actually resolving the problem.

JamesB

8:22 AM, 24th December 2022, About A year ago

Shame these tenants surveyed cheering on landlord bashing aren't bright enough to connect the dots to lower supply and higher rents 🙄

Keith Stead

9:35 AM, 24th December 2022, About A year ago

We continually read the output of surveys which presents the tenants view of what they should be entitled to and what controls should be in place to protect them. Many of the measures discussed are perfectly valid and as a responsible landlord I would have no objection supporting.

However, by way of a reasonable balance and of course to inform the ongoing debates, I would be very interested in the results of a survey which discussed the ‘tenants view’ on what landlords might be entitled too - especially in the event of breach of contract, non payment of rent, property abuse and damage…… and what they believe their responsibilities to the landlord are.

dismayed landlord

12:08 PM, 24th December 2022, About A year ago

Lol. Do not be silly!!

philip allen

15:49 PM, 24th December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 22/12/2022 - 09:36
Well said.

Jeff Simms

18:00 PM, 24th December 2022, About A year ago

The hard facts of life are that there are more renters than landlords that are voters but the private (excluding corporate owned) rental sector represents about 20% of the UK housing stock.
Landlords have only one weapon to fight back and that is raising rents.The more risk they are forced to take -ie more governmental regulation/taxation , skewed judicial system in favour of the tenant- the higher rents will rise.

Chris @ Possession Friend

18:11 PM, 24th December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Jeff Simms at 24/12/2022 - 18:00Yes, but the reduced number of landlords and rental properties is having a momentous effect, such as increasing number of Tenants up-bidding on asking rent ( never mind Rent controls ! ) to secure scarce and heavily competed rental properties.

dismayed landlord

18:22 PM, 24th December 2022, About A year ago

Jeff, we have the ultimate weapon. We take the ball away. No ball - no game. No houses to rent no tenants. Let the government let this big boy corporations take the responsibility and just like social landlords not give a s..t about the tenants. Too big to worry and the government backing them all the way.
Here is what shelter and those other useless non providing charities wanted. They win - give them what they asked for.
Who’s crying now! I will not be.
Call me bad for so long and I’ll become bad. You picked the fight. I did not. But it’s my ball! No game without it.

Jeff Simms

14:08 PM, 25th December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by dismayed landlord at 24/12/2022 - 18:22
True,but I prefer to stay in business. We landlords only have two weapons at our disposal.Jack up rents or sell up. I will raise rents up as much as the market will bear.Then if I can get more from selling and sticking the money on deposit - with no risk/hassle- I will sell. Good luck with your property/ies.

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