Michael Gove urged to focus on getting rental reform ‘right’

Michael Gove urged to focus on getting rental reform ‘right’

8:03 AM, 27th October 2022, About A year ago 11

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Landlords are calling on Michael Gove to get the planned Rental Reform Bill right for both landlords and tenants.

The call comes after Mr Gove was reinstated as the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities secretary by the new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

The cabinet minister had previously been fired by Boris Johnson in July.

Mr Gove had unveiled plans for the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and for assured shorthold tenancies to be replaced with periodic tenancies.

While there has been no announcement about whether the new administration will continue with the Renters’ Reform Bill, the National Residential Landlords Association says Mr Gove should focus on the country’s landlords.

‘Plans to reform the private rented sector’

Ben Beadle, the NRLA’s chief executive, said: “The NRLA congratulates Michael Gove on his reappointment as Housing Secretary. Top of his in tray will be progressing with the plans he previously worked on to reform the private rented sector, including ending Section 21 repossessions.

“Our survey data shows that most can envisage operating without Section 21 provided other proposals, such as on court reform and reformed grounds for possession, have their confidence.”

He added: “We will work constructively with the new Secretary of State to ensure the final reform package has the confidence of responsible landlords and tenants alike.

“This includes the need for action to tackle anti-social tenants, scrapping plans that would decimate the student housing market, and reforming the courts to ensure legitimate possession cases are dealt with more swiftly.”

‘Reforms to the private rented sector in England’

Timothy Douglas, the head of policy and campaigns for Propertymark, said: “The Levelling Up agenda and reforms to the private rented sector in England would appear to be back and will take centre stage in the new government as Michael Gove returns to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

“Mr Gove previously focussed on regional disparities and fixing the cladding scandal, but he now needs to go further and tackle the supply crisis in the private rented sector, implement the next steps for leasehold reform, set out the UK Government’s plans for home buying and selling as well engage with the sector to get more people onto the housing ladder and stimulate right sizing to release large, family homes.”

‘Providing a Fairer Private Rented Sector’

Kate Davies, the executive director of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA), said: “When he last held the DCLUHC brief, Mr Gove published two important consultations – one in February this year on ‘Levelling up’ and a second in June on ‘Providing a Fairer Private Rented Sector‘.

“As one of the most experienced Ministers in the new Cabinet, Mr Gove has a reputation for getting things done – and had already made progress on a number of key issues before his abrupt departure from the Johnson administration.

“Instead of facing the prospect of yet another new face at DLUHC, we, therefore, welcome Mr Gove’s return and hope that this signals the importance that both he and the new Prime Minister attach to this vital role.”


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Comments

Monty Bodkin

9:16 AM, 27th October 2022, About A year ago

The NRLA’s chief executive, said;

“Our survey data shows that most can envisage operating without Section 21"

My survey data shows that most landlords envisage great difficulty operating without Section 21 and the consequences of abolishing it will decimate the PRS and that the NRLA should either represent the views of its membership or STFU.

Old Mrs Landlord

10:52 AM, 27th October 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 27/10/2022 - 09:16
I was amazed to read that the NRLA had welcomed Gove's return in view of the fact that his stated intention has been to shrink the PRS so that currently rented properties can be purchased by first-time buyers. No need for me to elaborate on the flaws in that policy for 118's readership!

Alison Walker

11:45 AM, 27th October 2022, About A year ago

If Gove does to the PRS what he did to the education sector during his tenure as Education Secretary then the PRS are in for a rough ride that won't end well!

John Grefe

14:53 PM, 27th October 2022, About A year ago

Another mumpet! Gove doesn't understand what happened when rents controls were in force by Labour. Landlords left the market, didn't help tenants with fewer property and .....

Dylan Morris

7:57 AM, 28th October 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 27/10/2022 - 09:16
All we need to do is look at Scotland where there’s been a massive reduction in rental supply since the banning of Section 21.

Whiteskifreak Surrey

15:41 PM, 30th October 2022, About A year ago

This morning (Sunday) I watched that slimy viper talking to Laura Kussenberg. The hatred towards PRS expressed by both is sickening. I am close to be physically sick to see that viper's ugly face.
The idiots are not even looking for the reasons why the rent goes up - it is all private landlords' fault.
Literally the private landlords are now the public enemy number 1 - bigger that terrorists and murderers.
We have been students landlords since 2010 and letting a single flat since 2006. The Blair/Brown years were fantastic for the PRS, certainly for us.

Time to sell up everything a leave this ridiculous country for good.

John Grefe

15:55 PM, 30th October 2022, About A year ago

I wonder if anyone understands the PRS? We are an easy target but we also do a job that any political party/government can't forefil. We invest thousands of pounds, time and effort plus having to put up with being labelled the "bad guys" , and girls. Sorry. Drives you to drink, I who gave up a few years ago 🥂

Seething Landlord

16:37 PM, 30th October 2022, About A year ago

I wonder if we were watching the same programme because what I heard was Michael Gove undertaking to deal with social landlords who fail to meet their obligations and with the "very small but noxious minority of private landlords who do not treat their tenants well". What's not to like?

bob the builder

16:15 PM, 31st October 2022, About A year ago

My tip for yo guys is to not only get out of the PRS but get out of the UK and never come back.

Windsor Woman

16:30 PM, 31st October 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 30/10/2022 - 16:37
I didn't see the interview, but if Gove were to do as you are suggesting, most landlords would likely be happy with that, as the few spoil the PRS for the many, and we all get tarred with the same 'greedy, rogue etc' landlord brush.

However, who has confidence that he will do that? Certainly not me. Its not a vote winner, dealing with the courts to manage the removal of S21 is in the 'too hard' box, and everything the government has done in the PRS of late has been a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Punishing all landlords, including the good ones, is not impacting the so-called noxious minority - its just driving the good LLs out of the sector.

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