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0:05 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 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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JB
10:31 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ray Guselli at 22/02/2024 - 10:18Maybe Gove's aim is to scr*w Labour before they get in, giving them a head start on Labour's own self destruction?
Maybe the Tories will leave a note 'there's no rental homes left'
Hugh Baily
11:16 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
I am no fan of Rees Mogg, and I am no fan of Generation Rent, but I’m firmly behind them both when they agree together that the root of the problem is not enough housing. They are right, so I urge representatives of both sides to start working with each other to pressurise the government to not dodge the real issue any longer.
I agree with Rees Mogg about Gove. He has been in the centre of government long enough to know he can’t blame himself for housing failures so he fuels a spat between landlords and renters to heap blame on landlords.
However I can agree with generation rent that the end of S21 is sensible to assure tenants that their rights to a stable home are seen to be protected. Provided courts are freed I see that good Landlords have no fear on this score.
This video is the most sensible airing of views I have seen to date in all the reams of blather. Tenants and landlords should come together to fight for a free market with adequate housing and less governmental control and cost to them both.
I fear that however this video will be buried and forgotten. Both political parties are fixated by authoritarian control because they have no will to grasp the nettle, or simply lack the expertise to sort the problem.
JB
11:22 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Hugh Baily at 22/02/2024 - 11:16
The courts aren't working properly
Martin Thomas
11:27 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Hugh Baily at 22/02/2024 - 11:16
The real problem here is the lack of supply compared to the level of demand. So is it a supply problem or a demand problem?
Between now and 2040, the ONS estimates that 94%, that ISN'T a misprint, 94% of the increase in the UK population will be due to net migration - that's 5.5m out of about 5.9m people.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationprojections/datasets/tablea11principalprojectionuksummary
The scale of net migration since 2004 is the reason why rents are going up and people also can't afford to buy.
The answer would seem to be;
1. only allow in essential workers
2. restrict the number of foreign students going to universities (their fees by the way are £25k compared to UK students £9.25k, no wonder universities like foreign students!).
3. get people off the dole by withdrawing benefits where people 'choose' not to do the jobs that are available.
4. provide more tech solutions so that disabled people can work from home more easily.
5. the state needs to stop selling off houses and built more social rent properties for those on very low incomes.
Hugh Baily
11:27 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
Yes you are correct. Gove has made a commitment on this and he and Labour must honour it. With a unified voice we must our corner!
Hugh Baily
11:35 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
I agree Martin. This is part of the equation and decisions will have to be made on all of these points.
Mike Mudryk
12:20 PM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
Unless I missed it, what was not said was that without section 21 lenders may be reluctant to lend, landlords will be leaving the market all of which will reduce supply and force up rents!
Old Mrs Landlord
13:10 PM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
JRM's perspective is no doubt influenced by the fact that he is himself a landlord.
Monty Bodkin
13:41 PM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Old Mrs Landlord at 22/02/2024 - 13:10
It means he understands the issues which enabled him to destroy the opposing ignorant 'arguments'.
He owns 2 rental properties btw, hardly a large portfolio landlord.
howdidigethere
13:59 PM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago
I've been banging on about this is in this forum for ages. Maybe now because someone with a terribly posh accent, a pronoun that proves he is male and with some kind of royal blessing will somehow convince people that if we do not have property rights we are nothing but slaves. It is as black and white as that.
This is not to ignore the rule of law and treat people unconscionably, it is just that if we allow this to happen it is a slippery slope to serfdom.