Michael Gove praises landlords and rejects rent controls

Michael Gove praises landlords and rejects rent controls

10:26 AM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago 34

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Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, has expressed his opposition to rent controls at the National Residential Landlords Association’s (NRLA) national conference.

The event was held on the day after MPs debated the Renters (Reform) Bill, which aims to end so-called ‘no-fault’ evictions by abolishing section 21 notices.

Mr Gove said that he recognised ‘the invaluable service’ that ‘the overwhelming majority of landlords’ provide and that he wanted to ensure a healthy and ‘critical’ part of the housing market.

He also reassured attendees that he would work to improve the efficiency of the courts in processing legitimate possession cases before section 21 ends.

Rent controls for the private rented sector

On the issue of rent controls for the private rented sector (PRS), he said that they were ‘not just an intervention too far, but completely the wrong approach’.

He pointed to the negative impact they have on the supply of homes to rent and the quality of available rental properties.

Mr Gove also agreed with the NRLA’s concerns about protecting the annual cycle of the student housing market when fixed term tenancies are abolished.

‘Ensure changes work for the sector as a whole’

The NRLA’s chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: “We were delighted to hear the Secretary of State set out how he will ensure changes work for the sector as a whole, and the recognition the NRLA‘s evidence-based research received from the Chair of the Select Committee.

“Most of all, the event was a reminder of why we do what we do, to ensure the rental market genuinely works for responsible landlords and tenants.”


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Comments

LL Minion

13:10 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Do we just wait till Labour get in then all serve S21 to every tenant?

Seething Landlord

13:15 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by LL Minion at 26/10/2023 - 13:10
LL Minion: If landlords did that, how long do you suppose it would take for the courts to deal with all the possession claims and how many bailiffs would need to be recruited to enforce them?

LL Minion

14:01 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 26/10/2023 - 13:15
isn't that back in Labour's hands then to deal with. They created a problem that wasnt there and then tried to make it better by making it a whole lot worse. - will they really want that backlash as a result? The tenants who vote labour will be the ones that are going to be stuffed good and proper the harder they come down on landlords.

If labour get in they are still going to have to get a new bill though from scratch arnt they? They cant just use the current one and then tag on a lot of other stuff. Evenif passed in record time, for existing tenancies anything will have to be phased in. Plenty of time still to issue S21 until the date it is fully removed.

LL Minion

14:07 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

ages - but dont forget the S21 is two momths notice. Doesnt mean after this a LL has to go to court immediately. It could just be used as a slow burn notice more to the governement than to the tenant. Imagine all the calls to the council from tenants. The CAB, Shelter etc from tenants who have never been served one before...
Wonder what shelter etc will start moaning to labour about then....they got what they wanted afterall, abolition of S21.....Labour made it happen

Seething Landlord

14:08 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

How long do you think that it would take them to introduce emergency legislation banning all evictions? It's just as well that NRLA do not advocate ideas such as yours. At least they have earned enough credibility for government to listen to them. Also don't assume that landlords are a homogeneous group - they are individuals who will do what they perceive to be best for them in their own circumstances.
.

Crouchender

14:29 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 26/10/2023 - 14:08
Repealing S24 (which wont happen) would be reversed by Labour's emergency budget.

Plus they will stop all evictions on day one (tagged onto the existing Covid legislation for emergency situations!!) UNTIL their 100 day plan/ legislation for S21 is voted through (by a large Labour majority).

Lose lose situation with LLs. You just have to accept/live with it being tough in PRS and take a long term view or get out now. ie Don't dither.

Easy rider

14:36 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 26/10/2023 - 12:01
It wouldn’t be a 10% increase in rent. It would be a flat rate of tax for any property lettings. Landlords would pay 10% of rental income in tax.

No income tax. No expenses to fiddle. No additional reward for operating a debt-based lettings model.

The same rate for all properties regardless of the landlord’s tax-rate.

If I earn £20k in rent per year, I Probably pay £2k in income tax. Under a flat rate scheme, I’d pay £2k in VAT - regardless of other expenses. It doesn’t need to be 10%, it could be 5% and HMRC could calculate the figure based on long term average tax returns. But it should be the same percentage for all properties.

Such a method would be simple to operate, simple to police. It would deliver the same goals as Section 24.

If I own 10l% of a property that I rent out I should not pay less tax than somebody who has leveraged the same property and owns only 25% of it.

LL Minion

14:37 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 26/10/2023 - 14:08
true we are individuals but as a result do you really think the majority wont just throw inthe towell at this point if the bigger fear is then an emergency ban?

The proposed EPC fiasco stoked up enough landlords to quit...dont you think this will have the same effect? We are potentially talking about not being able to get your property back when a situation occurs that
for the landlord at least warrants serious action having to be taken - eviction. At least if you got to this stage then it should happen in a swift manner. No faith in that? Then landlords will walk away from the sector. What would be the reasons to actually stay in?

Michael Booth

15:37 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Alot are forgetting the elephant in the room , when labour get in the next election and start the attack on prs again, already said cgt will be increased .

Ian Narbeth

15:59 PM, 26th October 2023, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 26/10/2023 - 11:57
That was not the reason given. Many businesses borrow money to acquire assets to enable them to expand. They can offset the full mortgage interest cost against profits. Using OPM (other people's money) to finance your business is the fundamental way a free market system works.

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