Renters Reform Bill debate heats up in Committee stage

Renters Reform Bill debate heats up in Committee stage

0:04 AM, 15th November 2023, About 6 months ago 6

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The Renters Reform Bill is taking centre stage and is beginning its next passage through the House of Commons to the Committee stage.

Organisations across the private rented sector were invited to give evidence and propose amendments to a cross-party group of MPs.

The NRLA and Propertymark called for more clarity regarding fixed-term tenancies in the student sector.

Fixed-term tenancies vital for PRS

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns, at Propertymark told MPs that fixed-term tenancies are vital for the private rented sector.

He said: “It’s vitally important for landlords, tenants, guarantors – and students in particular – to have the option of fixed-term tenancies to give both security and flexibility in the system.

“A fixed term gives landlords and tenants a guarantee as to the length of time the tenancy will last. The tenant has security of tenure for the full tenancy period and the landlord knows that rent payments will be made for the whole fixed-term period.”

Brave and reforming piece of legislation

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter criticised the government for delaying Section 21 and urged MPs to “hold their nerve over the bill”.

She said: “It was always the case that the government would have to hold its nerve over this bill.

“This is a brave and reforming piece of legislation and as such there was always going to be lobbies for delays and for watering down.

“We urge the government to hold its nerve and not hold up the vital provisions in this Bill that will reduce homelessness. A robust bill would reduce the number of evictions by increasing security to renters.”

Can not support Section 21

Elsewhere in the debate, Ben Beadle chief executive officer of the NRLA, warned that the court system needs to be reformed before Section 21 can be abolished.

“We cannot support the Section 21 abolition when the courts are in such a state.

“We have been very clear that responsible landlords need to have alternative grounds for possession that they can rely on.

“They need to have confidence in the system that underpins it. I’m very frustrated that court reform hasn’t happened. I’m very clear that the government should get on it and deliver something that feels like Renters Reform.

The Committee is scheduled to report back their findings to the House of Commons by Tuesday 5th December 2023.

Watch below Ben Beadle explain the current state of the court system.


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Comments

Gromit

10:20 AM, 15th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Polly Neate, Shelter says: “We urge the government to hold its nerve and not hold up the vital provisions in this Bill that will reduce homelessness. A robust bill would reduce the number of evictions by increasing security to renters.”

Demonstrates how little PN knows about the PRS. Making it harder to evict will deter new Landlords and drive existing Landlords out of the PRS, which will INCREASE homelessness.
Adding more hoops, costs & delays in the eviction process will not only 'not' reduce the number of evictions; it'll increase rents, & drive more Landlords out of the PRS so exacerbating the current shortage and drive rents even higher.
Nice one Polly!

Ian Narbeth

10:50 AM, 15th November 2023, About 6 months ago

I agree with Gromit.
Brave or foolhardy? The answer is obvious. Polly Neate does not seem to care if landlords are bankrupted or forced to sell because they get a rogue tenant. (There are far more rogue tenants than rogue landlords.)
What the politicians have failed to think through is that s21 opened up the PRS. They abolish it at their peril. As economist Thomas Sowell says about cases such as this: "There are no solutions, only trade offs." Trying to "solve" the problem of a small number of "unfair" evictions will lead to many more tenants paying higher rents, defaulting on rent and getting a bad credit score, meaning the PRS will not accept them. That's the trade off, Polly! Is it worth it? Don't come bleating when homelessness increases.

Stella

11:38 AM, 15th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 15/11/2023 - 10:50
I agree but what is also astounding is that the people making these laws lack the brainpower to understand the consequences of giving in to the demands of Polly Neate and Generation rent.
I suspect there are people like me who are reluctant to relet right now.
This is not a recipy for solving the housing crisis!

Reluctant Landlord

12:48 PM, 15th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 15/11/2023 - 11:38
ditto. I'm getting so paranoid about vetting incoming tenants it's getting ridiculous.

Interestingly enough a fantastic tenant is now leaving and going back to Poland. He says prices so ridiculous in general ( rent excluded as we charge £150 pcm below market rent) and he is so sick of working and being taxed to the hilt, money going to those who don't/wont work and too many immigrants, he says he is better off going back home!

So great tenants leaving to be replaced by.....???

My fear is that at some point the only ones in the tenant pool looking for accomodation are going to be the nightmare ones that are looking because they have been evicted.

If you are a good tenant them simply staying put is best option I would have thought at the moment.

Stella

13:39 PM, 15th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 15/11/2023 - 12:48
me too!
I vet them very carefully and the bar is now much higher for prospective tenants.
All this tampering will have unintended consequences especially when we no longer have section 21.

LaLo

16:11 PM, 15th November 2023, About 6 months ago

Some of the best tenants I have are foreigners come here to work. They look after the place - never missed a rent payment and not a peep out of them. The worst t’s are brits, only yesterday I had one ask for a new microwave - the place is rented out unfurnished and the tenant knows that but still try’s it on! I told him ‘where to go’ - Curry’s. But then I’ve had T’s a lot worse the that and ashamed to say - all brits!

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