Landlords promised faster evictions under rental reforms

Landlords promised faster evictions under rental reforms

16:52 PM, 3rd October 2023, About 7 months ago 20

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The Government has promised to speed up the court process for landlords who want to evict their tenants as part of the proposed Renters (Reform) Bill.

The bill, which will abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, was discussed by Housing Minister Rachel Maclean at a Conservative Party conference event.

The event, hosted by the think tank Bright Blue and sponsored by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), was attended by landlords and housing experts who raised concerns about the impact of the bill on the rental market.

The NRLA argued that the current court system was too slow and inefficient to deal with possession cases, especially when tenants were causing problems such as anti-social behaviour or having ‘extreme’ rent arrears.

‘Exodus of landlords from the market will continue’

The NRLA’s chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: “Without the confidence of knowing that where they have good cause they can regain their property swiftly, the exodus of landlords from the market will continue.

“All this will do is make it even harder for renters to find a place to live.”

He added: “The Minister’s comments are welcome, but they need to be backed up by clear plans setting out actions that will be taken and a timeframe for implementation.

“That must include investment in new staff and greater use of technology to process cases more swiftly.”

Takes more than six months for a landlord to repossess a property

According to the NRLA, it takes an average of more than six months for a landlord to repossess a property through the courts, which is ‘too long’ and costly for both landlords and tenants.

The Housing Minister assured the audience that the Government was committed to reforming the court system alongside the bill, so that landlords could have a ‘guarantee’ of faster and fairer evictions when they had a valid reason.

She said that it was ‘very important’ that landlords had confidence in the rental sector and that tenants had security and stability in their homes.

The Renters (Reform) Bill is expected to have its second reading in Parliament later this year and will also include measures to improve the standards and safety of rented properties.


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Comments

Teessider

21:57 PM, 3rd October 2023, About 7 months ago

It’s clear that landlords do not believe that the controls (streamlined digital courts etc.,) in the RRB will be delivered. Landlords fear being unable to take possession of properties with antisocial tenants.

As we are seeing with HS2, large projects are difficult to deliver.

Why don’t they introduce the streamlined digital courts first? Prove that the new system works before Section 21 is abolished.

Just like they could have completed HS2 one small step at a time.

Peter Merrick

22:05 PM, 3rd October 2023, About 7 months ago

"... Government was committed to reforming the court system ..."
NEVER trust anyone who proclaims that they are committed to a course of action without a definite plan and accountability to make sure it happens.

Chris @ Possession Friend

22:12 PM, 3rd October 2023, About 7 months ago

It may well be ' sped-up ' because things will be decided with no recourse to ( effectively ) appeal, the Housing Ombudsman !

Politicians must think we dropped off a tree.

JamesB

8:44 AM, 4th October 2023, About 7 months ago

From a normal individual's perspective, councils and the government are all one big entity making the rules and telling you what to do.
I am not sure where the average eviction taking 6 months comes from? My last s21 took 15 months and almost a year of that was waiting for a hearing. I did EVERYTHING right, hence getting possession ultimately. However the "Council"(Govt) were the very ones telling my tenants to stay put right up until the bailiffs came. Loss to me - several thousand pounds, several months putting the wrecked house right, any quality of life with my family for over a year and any sense of fairness.
The tenants ran away when the bailiffs came, after carefully requesting that we were made to stand at the other end of the cul de sac, and so far have never been seen again. Apparently the council (govt) rehoused them outside the area.
Obviously they won't tell me where, so ultimately the council (govt) completely helped the tenants to rob me - the one that actually pays (or used to pay) taxes. The court ruled that the tenants should pay the fees but the council (govt) have also facilitated them simply walking away with the reality being therefore that I paid the fees. With regards to "the government", I will never forget.

Nick Van Hoogstraten

17:37 PM, 4th October 2023, About 7 months ago

I'm not evening listening anymore. I'm just selling.

Smiffy

15:04 PM, 5th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by JamesB at 04/10/2023 - 08:44
it would be interesting to take this back to Court but serve a claim on the ex-tenant and the council, jointly and severally liable.

You can demonstrate that the advice given was unlawful and therefore claim your losses off the council.

Ian Narbeth

10:44 AM, 6th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Ben Beadle meekly says: “The Minister’s comments are welcome, but they need to be backed up by clear plans setting out actions that will be taken and a timeframe for implementation."

He should instead say to her:
"Minister, landlords have no confidence in the Government treating them fairly. For 8 years the Conservatives have launched one attack after another against landlords, All the while you mouth platitudes and now you talk about reforming the court system to speed up justified evictions.

Landlords are involuntary creditors. If a purchaser stops paying the supplier, the supply stops pretty quickly. If a tenant stops paying, the landlord may have a deposit but once that is exhausted, every day that goes by increases the debt. You need to justify every day over 5 weeks that it takes to evict a defaulting tenant.

Because you have acted so aggressively against landlords, many have stopped renting out their properties. More will follow. That in turn will make it harder for tenants to find accommodation and rents will go up.

You need to spend money, a lot of money, improving the court system and recruiting more judges. That will take time. Upgrading IT isn't the solution and nobody believes Government and IT projects work well. Forcing landlords to mediate before suing will only make things worse. Unless landlords see a radical change - and I mean actions not words - they will continue to dis-believe what you say. Tenants will lose out too. Landlords lose, Tenants lose and the Tories will lose unless you get a grip."

Come on Ben! You have access to the Minister. Tell her the truth.

paul robinson

10:52 AM, 6th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 06/10/2023 - 10:44
The NRLA and the RLA are spineless. When Teressa May decided to scrap S21 back in 2019 I listen to a Radio 2 debate over this is the RLA representation was shocking….it had not improved despite constant landlord bashing since then!

Chris @ Possession Friend

11:19 AM, 6th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 06/10/2023 - 10:44
Well said Ian

GlanACC

11:28 AM, 8th October 2023, About 7 months ago

I have just spotted a pig in the sky flying past me window, has anyone else seen it.

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