Property industry expert supports amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill

A prominent industry expert has endorsed a series of amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill which aims to protect private rented sector (PRS) landlords from unfair evictions and excessive regulation.

The managing director of PayProp UK, Neil Cobbold, said the Bill should balance the rights of landlords and tenants, and that the amendments would help achieve this.

He said: “A recent report from the Bank of England has confirmed that landlords have been leaving the PRS over a number of years because of higher taxes and an increasing burden of regulation.

“We all want to see the industry deliver a high standard of homes for tenants and a sustainable return for landlords, encouraging current property owners to stay and new landlords to invest in more rental stock.”

Amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill

The amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill have been proposed by Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall and are supported by some of his backbench colleagues.

Mr Mangnall said in October, after the Bill’s second reading, that the Bill must reassure tenants and landlords – and ensure the rights of property ownership and good tenancies.

Mr Cobbold said: “The vast majority of landlords want to provide decent homes for their tenants, but it is imperative that they feel secure about regaining possession of their properties should they need to do so.

“Ensuring there is real progress in court reforms before any proposed eviction changes take place may reassure landlords who are worried that they may have to wait over five months to recover their property, based on current wait times.”

He adds that having a four-month minimum rental period would reassure landlords worried tenants moving in ‘for a couple of months in the summer’ before moving on.

Mr Cobbold also welcomed the proposed protection to the student market and its long-established annual letting cycle.

Amendments to be discussed by MPs

The Bill’s amendments to be discussed by MPs include:

• Banning tenants from giving notice to leave a property within the first four months, once fixed-term tenancies end.
• Allowing evidence such as texts or emails from neighbours to be considered when courts deal with eviction cases for anti-social behaviour
• Requiring the government to publish a review of residential possession court proceedings before allowing the proposed abolition of Section 21 evictions.
• Ending local authority landlord licensing schemes once the national property portal is introduced

Protecting student housing supply by extending the grounds of possession to all properties solely occupied by one or more students.

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