Tenants get new platform to complain about landlords
1 year ago | 17 comments
PRS crisis deepens as landlords sell – NRLA
12:06 AM, 20th February 2025, 1 year ago
7
A critical housing shortage is impacting renters across England and Wales, with research revealing a widening gap between supply and demand.
A study commissioned by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), found that 77% of landlords experienced substantial tenant interest during the last quarter of 2024.
Demand was highest in South West England (81%), followed closely by the South East and North West (80% each).
Despite this high demand, one in five landlords have sold properties in the past year, nearly three times the number (7%) who bought new ones.
And this year, 41% of landlords are planning to reduce their rental portfolio, while only 5% planning to expand it.
Rental accommodation is not there
The NRLA’s chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: “Plans to improve security for tenants will mean nothing if the rental accommodation they need is not there in the first place.
“Tenants right across the country are feeling the effects of a lack of housing across the board, including with respect to the privately rented properties.
“Without change, the situation is only going to worsen. We need policies that genuinely support those who provide decent quality homes to rent.”
He added: “Tax hikes which penalise those wanting to provide such homes need to be scrapped. What’s more, those providing homes to rent must have the confidence to stay in the market when the Renters’ Rights Bill is passed. At present that confidence simply is not there.”
Landlord property sales
The findings coincide with government data identifying landlord property sales as the primary reason for tenancies ending.
The disparity between housing supply and demand will disproportionately affect those relying on housing benefits, the NRLA warns, as these payments are scheduled to freeze in April.
The NRLA is now calling for government intervention to bolster landlord confidence and maintain rental housing availability.
Its recommendations include:
- Reversing the stamp duty increase on new rental properties
- Implementing a streamlined court process for possession claims after the Renters’ Rights Bill passes
- Reconsider the housing benefit freeze.
If you would like to discuss quickly selling your rental property with experts, contact Landlord Sales Agency:
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Tags:
Housing benefit, housing shortage, Landlords, NRLA, Property sales, PRS, rental crisis, renters rights bill, Stamp duty, tenants, UK rental market
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Member Since January 2023 - Comments: 317
8:24 AM, 20th February 2025, About 1 year ago
I filled in the NRLA survey for what it was worth but Labour will not listen as they are dogmatic. They will bulldoze RRB through. Councils are taking full advantage of setting up money making selective licencing schemes nearly borough-wide. PRS sector is set up for crash and unfortunately our customers (tenants) don’t know what is coming but will feel it in their pockets as PRS supply drops off (maybe not a cliff but certainly a steady stream in the next two years)
Member Since August 2022 - Comments: 100
9:39 AM, 20th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Crouchender at 20/02/2025 – 08:24
It probably won’t be off a cliff. The landlords I speak to are off-loading properties as each becomes vacant, rather than selling their portfolio in one go.
So it will be a steady attrition rather than a cliff edge. Same result.
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 394
10:45 AM, 20th February 2025, About 1 year ago
When I advertised a flat to let a couple of weeks ago I had over 140 enquiries, that says it all! I’ve never seen so many homeless as now and see scrapping S21 as the main reason yet the government and tenants see LLs as the bad guys and simply won’t won’t’ listen. So, are the government helping tenants errr!
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1576
11:15 AM, 20th February 2025, About 1 year ago
This is an entirely predictable consequence of the war on landlords (or, to be more accurate, tenants). The Labour and Conservative Parties used the PRS as a cash cow to fund their incompetence.
And its tenants that suffer.
Landlords are quite happy to take their money and run, even after being hit for CGT (a tax on inflation).
There is a growing number of people that need to rent. These include…
* the least financially astute in Society,
* those that live on benefits,
* people that work in jobs that force them to move regularly,
* newcomers to the U.K.,
* those on minimum wage in affluent areas
Then there are those that choose to rent.
As the PRS shrinks, at a time when BTR/Social Housing cannot meet the shortfall, those that would otherwise choose to rent, are forced to buy their own homes (often a millstone around one’s neck).
The country needs Reform. Yet, I fear it’s too late. Maybe we need Trump.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1438 - Articles: 1
11:53 AM, 20th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Un-common common sense would have worked out that as landlords sell their rental properties, and Local Authorities have put asylum seekers to the top of their lists, there would be a critical housing shortage impacting renters across England and Wales and an ever widening gap between supply and demand.
Didn’t need a paid for study by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) work this one out. A waste of members money????
Member Since January 2023 - Comments: 317
1:31 PM, 20th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 20/02/2025 – 11:53
What we really want is section 24 reversed so leveraged LLs get some slack to invest whether its to upgrade to EPC C or buy more property to rent to supply the market at all levels.
We could also do with reducing red tape not increasing (RRB) it for decent LLs. Rogue LLs you will never get just like rogue tenants can never be reduced.
Member Since May 2023 - Comments: 224
11:35 AM, 25th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 20/02/2025 – 11:15
Common Sense, from Trump!
That deluded populist con artist just tells the poorly educated what he thinks they want to hear. Now that he’s elected, he’s following the Project 2025 plan for fascist dictatorship and cutting the Medicaid system by $880 Bn so he can pay for tax cuts for his billionaire sponsors.
There’s no sense there and the 1% are the only beneficiaries.
The only value is in the lesson learnt about misinformation that drives his progress, as the similarities to PRS activism are just as deluded.
As the Americans say F About, and Find Out #FAFO