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0:05 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago 41
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Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former leader of the House of Commons, has launched a scathing attack on the housing secretary, Michael Gove, over his proposed Renters (Reform) Bill, which he called a ‘socialist error’.
The Bill aims to improve the security and standards of tenants in the private rented sector (PRS) and would abolish section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.
During a monologue on GB News (see the video below), Mr Rees-Mogg argues that the bill would undermine property rights, which he described as ‘one of the four great pillars’ of the Constitution, along with freedom of speech, the rule of law and democracy.
He claimed that the Bill would reduce the supply and increase the price of rental properties, as landlords would be deterred from entering or staying in the market.
He also says the Bill will harm the interests of both landlords and tenants, who often prefer fixed-term tenancies and benefit from the flexibility of Section 21 evictions.
Mr Rees-Mogg said: “It reassures landlords that they will be able to get their properties back, and this guarantee increases supply and lowers prices for tenants.
“As an aside, it can also be helpful for tenants.
“Sometimes there’s a difficult tenant who’s annoying the neighbours, and it’s easier to say, ‘I want you to leave under Section 21’ than to say, ‘I’m asking you to leave because you’re difficult’, which then stays on that tenant’s record, causing future problems later on.”
He added: “It removes a stigma that may attach not necessarily to bad tenants, but against ones who’ve had complaints against them. And in this way, everybody gains.”
Mr Rees-Mogg also criticises Mr Gove’s plans to give councils more powers to regulate short-term lets, such as Airbnb, in popular tourist areas.
He said that this would infringe on the rights of property owners to let out their homes for a few weeks and damage the local economy by discouraging tourism.
Mr Rees-Mogg added: “Part of the plan includes a mandatory National Register intended to keep track of short-term lets.
“But what right does the Government have to do this?
“It’s your property, why shouldn’t you let it out for a few weeks? Any serious conservative government’s impulse would oppose the socialist move.”
He added that the housing shortage is caused by the failure to build more houses, not by the lack of regulation and he urged the government to make it easier for people to let properties, rather than harder, to boost supply and bring prices down.
Mr Rees-Mogg points out: “These are arguments that I’d normally expect to hear from the Labour Party, not from a Conservative government.
“The Renters (Reform) Bill is a socialist error that will hurt renters, landlords and the economy. It should be scrapped.”
Watch Sir Jacob give his thoughts on the ‘socialist error’ Renters (Reform) Bill and this is followed by a panel discussion on the issues.
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Jeff L
7:12 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
OMG is this a Politician talking common sense? Surely not!
John Bentley
7:14 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
The first politician who understands the effect this will have, well said Jacob. Let's hope more people listen to what he said but I doubt they will because it isn't a vote winner. It will be too late for many tenants by the time it's realised, sadly.
JB
7:40 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
Well done Jacob! At least you understand that if you kick a landlord, you kick a tenant. I believe evictions should be easy and quick - as this will benefit tenants. As Jacob says, landlords have no interest in arbitrarily evicting tenants. There's almost always a good reason, and the quicker a non paying tenant can be removed, the less rent landlords loose which means good tenants rents don't rise to cover losses.
In the vast majority of cases 'no fault' evictions DO HAVE a fault, it's just not recorded on the notice.
The effect will reach beyond landlords and tenants.
Council tax payers will be footing the bill for all the extra homeless tenants, council tax will rise, council services will cease and the economy will suffer.
Carole Woodward
7:43 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
Common sense from Rees Mogg here Gove has no idea just a closet socialist.
Southern Boyuk
8:00 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
Had a few issues over the many years, but nothing like recently, which sadly many landlords have been through already.
The tenant doesn’t pay rent, you wish you a section 8, the courts award your property, the law is a mess because it has no balls to get the tenant out and on shelter advice, they stay beyond the legal date of departure, the landlord then has to go back to court to get a bailiff order, there is a delay, there is a delay for notice if the normal process is followed, and not the High Court acceleration path, which isn’t always quicker, but it is more expensive, the tenant decides they’re going to leave, but before they do They get all the valuable stuff out so there’s nothing much left that the bailiffs can see to help pay for the court costs.
The back rent owed is not paid with the section 8 County Court judgement, the landlord then has to reapply for a repayment schedule at more cost.
This process needs to be really sorted out before anything moves forward on the Renters reform, so the landlord can get the property back on the first application and all the costs
Cider Drinker
8:41 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
The Bill does NOT ‘aim to improve the security and standards of tenants in the private rented sector (PRS)’.
Its aim is to garner votes at the forthcoming election.
Paul B
9:41 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
Rees Mogg is no longer Leader of the House of Commons. He is now a mere backbencher. Never my favourite MP, but in this case I cannot disagree with him.
Paul Essex
9:54 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
Good words but much too late to make a difference, there is so much momentum behind the Section 21 ban that stopping it seems impossible.
Ray Guselli
10:18 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
Absolutely spot on and about time a politician understood the issues and stood up for landlords.
Gove and crew will soon learn that, those they are trying to appease will NEVER vote for them, whilst losing and alienating those who have traditionally been Conservatives.
But it is above Politics and more down to common sense and with a court system already unable to operate efficiently through a lack of funding, suggesting there will be alternatives to S21, which will take up even more court time, will bring the whole system to a standstill.
Paul McCarthy
10:22 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 2 months ago
No doubt the Buffoon on LBC at 10am will slag him off as usual. I cannot bring myself to even say the guys name he offends me so much.