9:35 AM, 30th April 2025, About 10 months ago 7
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A member of the House of Lords has accused the Labour government of “discriminating against tenants” through its deal with Serco to house asylum seekers.
The Home Office recently announced an arrangement with the contractor Serco to secure private rented properties for asylum seekers. The deal guarantees landlords five-year leases at full rent, funded by taxpayers, to accommodate the growing number of arrivals.
However, members of the House of Lords have raised concerns, arguing that the scheme is not compatible with the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Lord Empey slammed the government’s deal with Serco, warning it clashes with the principles of the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Speaking during the third debate of the Bill’s Committee stage, he said: “Here are the government telling us that we have to get rid of Section 21 as we do not want agreed fixed term tenancies; on the other hand, it appears that the government are going to landlords and offering them up to five-year tenancies if they house asylum seekers.
“You cannot have it both ways. The Minister told me that you could not discriminate between one tenant and another, but in fact, that is precisely what we are doing. We are introducing a new class of tenant, a tenant who is in a superior position to the ordinary tenants we have at the moment.
“How is it possible to have this Bill on the statute book and at the same time have the proposed Serco arrangements in operation without creating two classes of tenant?”
In response to Lord Empey, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said she could not comment on the specifics of the Serco agreement.
She said: “The Home Office is developing a long-term strategy for asylum accommodation that aims to deliver a better long-term model of accommodation supply to reduce competition for affordable housing, help deliver new supply and give the communities we serve more control.
“How these arrangements interact with the Renters’ Rights Bill will depend on the nature of the commercial agreement between the Home Office and Serco and on whether the accommodation being provided to asylum seekers amounts to an assured tenancy, which, of course, is the subject matter of the Bill. As I say, I do not have details of the progress that the Home Office is making on this, but I am happy to write to noble Lords on that point.”
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Cider Drinker
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Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1539
9:31 AM, 30th April 2025, About 10 months ago
Allowing a mass invasion of renters could be not only the Number One reason that we have a housing crisis, it’s the ONLY reason.
Discriminating against private tenants is nothing new. The government have been doing it for years via their unfair tax regime, ridiculous over-regulation and disproportionate fines for minor admin errors.
The government should stop using the value of housing as a cash-cow to cover up their own failings and to fund current and future failings.
Reluctant Landlord
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Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3441 - Articles: 5
10:19 AM, 30th April 2025, About 10 months ago
The result will no doubt be that as there is NO direct AST established between the property owner and the tenant then, the agreement will be outside of the requirements of the RRB.
The property owner will let direct to Serco on a commercial basis ONLY.
Only Serco would have the devolved ‘power’ (given by the HO) to house someone without legal status because the asylum seeker, by default, has no legal right to rent.
But, as the fact remains, if the government push to house these people in accommodation other than hotels/hostels/camps etc then YES they will be jumping the queue ahead of those ‘home grown’ still waiting on existing housing lists.
If Reform sail though these local elections, its going to be a summer of riots again if people start seeing more asylum seekers being farmed out into PRS accommodation in their local community just so the hotels can be shut.
Beaver
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Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1963
10:57 AM, 30th April 2025, About 10 months ago
There’s another discussion about this here:
https://www.property118.com/nrla-hits-out-as-labour-appeals-for-more-landlords-to-house-asylum-seekers/comment-page-3/#comment-192249
A competent government would make it MORE attractive for private landlords to house social housing tenants than to house asylum seekers, not less attractive.
If the government doesn’t do this it will only fuel tension between communities and that will be further exacerbated by social media.
dismayed landlord
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Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 292
14:09 PM, 30th April 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 30/04/2025 – 09:31
The trouble is we are a property based economy. We produce virtually nothing. A bit of service stuff – insurance, banking, finance, shares. and stocks. We manufacture virtually nothing . Scotland at least has whiskeys! We have a Caterham Seven.
Our economy is based on property. More specifically the lack of it. For the numbers that need it. . From whatever source.
Therefore no one can afford to see it collapse. That includes the benefits claimants.
We all in the same boat- sinking slowly .
The real reason therefore for any government to fix it.
I made more from property than working. No brainier. 10 fold if not more. Even paying the taxes in full.
Downsize Government
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Member Since February 2020 - Comments: 360
15:59 PM, 30th April 2025, About 10 months ago
They are also discriminating against Taxpayers, having to foot the bill for the lawbreakers free accommodation.
Currently they are discriminating against holiday makers. Hotels are expensive!
Paul Essex
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Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 712
18:07 PM, 1st May 2025, About 9 months ago
Who believes that the hapless landlords will actually get the houses back with vacant possession at the end of the five years?
Tiger
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Member Since October 2024 - Comments: 176
8:41 AM, 4th May 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by dismayed landlord at 30/04/2025 – 14:09
When I was working, I made more from working as an IT contractor with very long hours (of course without overtime). Returns in London have never been to good to begin with. I made losses for a long time, bought within the company incorporated in 2005, so tremendous amounts lent to the company.
As renting to students, sometimes if missed the September deadline, properties can be empty for up to 10 months, as currently 2 properties empty. But I would never rent to any Serco type companies. 3 such rent to rent companies have approached me and I have not been happy with their contracts. I have my own contract. I don’t accept rent in arrears and when they say if rent not received after 14 days, I can get the property back. They don’t want to be referenced as they say there is no risk, as they would pay rent from the tenants receipts. I saw alarm bells ringing in practically many ways. Aa, aa, not for me.