NRLA pushes back on poor housing conditions in PRS and calls for clarity on Renters’ Rights Act

Generation Rent claims renters are forced to live in damp and mouldy homes, but a landlord organisation hit back at the claims, pointing out that standards in the private rented sector have improved.

During a Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee session on housing conditions in England, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) told MPs that the majority of private rented homes already meet the Decent Homes Standard.

Elsewhere in the session, members discussed the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act on the sector.

Renters are forced to live in damp and mouldy homes

During the session Nye Jones, head of campaigns at Generation Rent, claimed renters live in bad conditions in the private rented sector.

He said: “Renters are forced to live in draughty, mouldy, damp homes that are dangerous to their physical and mental health and we pay through the nose for it at the same time.

“We’re living in these substandard homes with no power to hold landlords to account but we hope the Renters’ Rights Act will improve this.”

Deborah Garvie, policy manager at Shelter, also added, “they see terrible conditions and life-threatening hazards in some private rented accommodation.”

Government needs responsible landlords to stay in the sector

However, later in the committee session, NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle defended landlords against claims they have become “complacent” when it comes to conditions in their properties.

He told the committee: “There’s some perception that the private rented sector sits on its hands and has done nothing, but more than 80% of homes in the private rented sector would pass the Decent Homes Standard, that’s up from 53%.

“More than 91% of private rented dwellings do not have a damp problem, the proportion of EPC A-C has increased from 23% to 48% and satisfaction in the sector is higher than in social housing.”

Mr Beadle added that the language used to describe landlords is important and that the government must support them through the transition to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

He said: “Language is important, and the government needs responsible landlords to stay in the sector. Section 21 notices are not the leading cause of homelessness, landlords selling properties is. We need to make sure the government listens to landlords’ concerns.”

A minimum six-month implementation for the Renters’ Rights Act.

Elsewhere in the session, Mr Beadle said the government must implement a minimum six-month implementation for the Renters’ Rights Act.

The government have so far remained tight-lipped over specific dates on the specific date when Section 21 will be abolished and when all fixed-term terms become periodic.

Mr Beadle said the government must end the uncertainty.

He said: “There’s a lot of trepidation out there amongst landlords and I think the best thing the government can do is set out a clear implementation timeframe.

“There are 4.7 million tenancy agreements that need to be updated, there are local authorities that need to be upskilled, there are lawyers that need to know what’s going on.”

“The time for carping over changes has passed. This is about making the reforms work and we want them to work.

Landlords may be rethinking options

When asked whether the Renters’ Rights Act will force landlords out of the sector, he said there is a “plethora of legislation” influencing landlords’ decisions.

He said: “I would characterise regulation of the private rented sector like the game Buckaroo: you’re loading up so many things, so many things, and then, bang.

“You have minimum energy-efficiency standards, Making Tax Digital, selective licensing, Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard and hundreds more.

“I don’t think you can pinpoint any one of those as the reason landlords might leave, but as a collective, if you’ve been in the business for a long time, you may be rethinking your options.

“I want landlords to have confidence, and I think if you’re not in the business to do a good job, then clear off.”