Landlords will be able to end tenancy without a court order under new plans to tackle illegal immigration

Landlords will be able to end tenancy without a court order under new plans to tackle illegal immigration

10:24 AM, 3rd August 2015, About 9 years ago 18

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Under “Right to Rent” proposals in the upcoming Immigration Bill the Home Office would issue a notice when an asylum application fails that confirms the tenant no longer has the right to rent property.Greg Clark

This will then give landlords the ability to end the tenancy without a court order in some circumstances.

Financial support for failed asylum seekers will also end under the proposals with approximately 10,000 currently continuing to receive an allowance of £36 a week, because they are living in the UK with their families even though their applications have been rejected.

Measures will also be introduced to crack down on landlords who exploit vulnerable migrants by renting out unfit flats and houses. The Immigration Bill will include a responsibility for landlords similar to employers to check passports and ID cards to confirm tenants have a right to reside. Please see our previous article regarding the Immigration Bill receiving Royal assent >> http://www.property118.com/immigration-bill-now-law/65819/#comments

The flurry of political activity and News coverage comes on the back of all the recent troubles in Calais.

Setting up a  blacklist of  landlords and letting agents will allow councils to keep track of those who have been convicted of housing offences and ban them from renting out properties if they are repeat offenders.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said “the government was targeting people who made money by exploiting vulnerable people and undermining our immigration system.”

“We will also require them to meet their basic responsibilities as landlords, cracking down on those who rent out dangerous, dirty and overcrowded properties.”

Chief executive of the National Landlords Association Richard Lambert, said “the proposals were a welcome step forward. I am slightly concerned that we are breaking the 40-year-old principle that it has to be a court that ends a tenancy,but we do need something that will work in practice.”

Mr Lambert told Radio 4 the possible five-year prison penalty for renting to illegal immigrants was “quite surprising and had come almost out of the blue”.

“You do wonder how much it relates to the government wanting to be seen to be tough on migration given what’s going on in Calais. I think that we need to think through the consequences of the kind of systems we are putting into place.”


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Comments

11:09 AM, 4th August 2015, About 9 years ago

will this new proposal apply fairly to ALL landlords and all people accepting rent ?

Will Councils and Housing Associations also face criminal sanctions if they wittingly or unwittingly allow illegals to stay in their properties?

Does it also apply to people letting to lodgers in their own home via Rent a Room? They seem to be flavour of the month at the mo?

Teg's Dad

11:30 AM, 4th August 2015, About 9 years ago

If landlords will face a jail term and a criminal record for letting to illegal immigrants, will the Border Agency staff who let them in in the first place, face the same penalties?

Luke P

11:50 AM, 4th August 2015, About 9 years ago

I have worked alongside the old UKBA. The would raid fast food takeaways etc. and pick up illegal immigrants. They would be taken to the local cells where the custody Sgt. has no power to refuse acceptance of the prisoner. They will be put before a Magistrate the following day and the theory was that they would be held in a detention centre until their hearing to determine their status. As these detention centres seem to have fallen out of favour/fashion/have no money the immigrant is now instead bailed to attend said hearing on a date in the future. In every case the individual disappears back into society, often moving to a different area of the country. We picked up a couple of these in the Midlands area who had previously been arrested and bailed some two years earlier in Scotland. The UKBA staff felt helpless as the system is weighted against them in every possible way. We either need to detained individuals securely until their hearing or decide their status at the Magistrates Court the very day after arrest. Anything else is just throwing good money after bad (or perhaps bad money after bad). Knowing what I know from the 'inside' I have a lot of sympathy with the new UKVI (old UKBA) because they have their hands tied, yet take the very public blame when it actually falls at Parliament's door!

Pat A

12:22 PM, 4th August 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Luke P" at "04/08/2015 - 11:50":

I think if we had Australian type Detention Centres where the public could see how many are in detention. It would be an eye opener.

According to Wikipedia there are 25 Detention Centres in Australia with 6,518 detainees

Letting them go into hiding is a complete waste of court money

Teg's Dad

13:00 PM, 4th August 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Pat A" at "04/08/2015 - 12:22":

I could not agree more, Pat A. Unless the Government discourage illegal immigration/economic migration/asylum seekers I fear that the usual tolerance of the people of this country may be stretched to breaking point.

Luke P

13:41 PM, 4th August 2015, About 9 years ago

What I find bizarre is how when I listen to the audience reaction on topical programmes such as Any Questions or Question Time, there is rapturous applause when some liberal-minded politician says we should show compassion by letting them all in, they're only trying to gain a better life.

Yes, but what do we do when everyone decides to move here? We have to help ourselves in order to help others. The same way you don't go diving into a freezing lake to rescue someone who is drowning...you put yourself in danger, make the situation worse and you become no use to anyone.

Rod

20:51 PM, 8th August 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Luke P" at "04/08/2015 - 13:41":

Yesterday East europe, today North Africa, tomorrow the world, when will it end? Another fine mess!

Luke P

23:53 PM, 8th August 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Jack Ass" at "08/08/2015 - 20:51":

I know we all have our individual political views but how on earth can there be so much (middle-class, mostly southern English) support for allowing unlimited numbers in unchecked, regardless of their desperation. It will only encourage more and more until nobody has any choice but to turn everyone away.

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