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0:04 AM, 13th June 2023, About 11 months ago 24
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Property sector leaders say the Renters’ Reform Bill is a ‘golden opportunity’ for the private rented sector (PRS)
However, they caution the government from introducing ‘piecemeal legislation’ so that landlords are not over-burdened.
The legislation is seen as the most transformative overhaul of the PRS in decades and encompasses various proposals including the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and reinforcing Section 8 evictions.
Also, the Bill will give tenants the legal right to request pet ownership in rental properties, implementing a Decent Homes Standard and mandating landlord membership in a registration scheme.
Neil Cobbold, the managing director of PayProp UK, said: “The Renters’ Reform Bill is a golden opportunity to get these reforms right, but credible enforcement is key.
“Property professionals have pointed to a ‘postcode lottery’ across the country when it comes to enforcing current rules, which allows rogue landlords and agents to operate.
“We urge the government to address this as we see very few proposals to ensure better enforcement.”
He added: “Anything that drives up standards can only be seen as a good thing for the PRS but the lack of reassurances and detail in these reforms risks some landlords selling up at a time when rental properties are urgently needed.”
Mr Cobbold continued: “These reforms should be delivered in such a way that they allow tenants to feel protected and landlords to feel confident that the sector is viable.
“The abolition of Section 21, which currently allows landlords to gain possession of their property without giving a reason, maybe a worry for some landlords – but it is a genuine concern for tenants.
“The strengthening of Section 8 – which allows landlords to evict on a number of grounds including anti-social behaviour, arrears and needing to sell – should offer reassurance to the legitimate concerns of landlords while affording tenants more protection than they currently have.”
In addition to the Renters’ Reform Bill, the PRS is also gearing up for the upcoming legislation on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations.
While the government has yet to announce a precise implementation date, these new rules are anticipated to be enacted soon.
As part of the government’s commitment to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050, the proposed legislation aims to raise the minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating for all PRS homes.
The current requirement of an ‘E’ rating will be elevated to a ‘C’ rating, marking a significant shift in energy efficiency standards for rental properties.
Nathan Emerson, Propertymark’s chief executive, also says the Bill will help the PRS and said: “Propertymark supports the need to professionalise the industry in order to stamp out bad practice and eradicate rogue landlords.
“With nearly half of all landlords in England only owning one property, there is a concern that ongoing piecemeal legislation may add further pressure on small portfolio landlords and will be unmanageable and unenforceable.”
He added: “A considerable number of smaller-scale landlords will struggle to find the funds to improve the energy efficiency of their properties and the UK government must ensure that adequate funding is available to be able to achieve this.”
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Whiteskifreak Surrey
12:22 PM, 13th June 2023, About 11 months ago
The author surely lives in these wonderful sunny uplands, surrounded by unicorn grazing gently on the eternally green grass.
The rest of us lives in reality of the Cons government.
Neilt
12:30 PM, 13th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Jeff L at 13/06/2023 - 11:24
No it won't, it'll simply mean rent control
Yvonne Francis
12:40 PM, 13th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Neilt at 13/06/2023 - 12:30
That will definatly be the death rattle for the PRS. Its back to the Seventies and early Eighties.
Reluctant Landlord
13:32 PM, 13th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Jeff L at 13/06/2023 - 11:22
hahahah! I go with all three.
Monty Bodkin
14:42 PM, 13th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Neilt at 13/06/2023 - 12:30"it'll simply mean rent control"
Both Labour and the Cons have stated they are against rent controls, they don't work, it's a silly far Left fantasy.
Desmond
15:57 PM, 13th June 2023, About 11 months ago
It is a 'golden opportunity' for these various NGO-style bureaucrat groups to make a comfortable living that is funded by the tenant, being in part a proxy for the taxpayer. Given the business model of UK Ltd has been backed into the corner of importing and housing unskilled labour to supplement an expanding voter base that can choose not to work for a living, it isn't hard to see why more regulation becomes an "opportunity" for some. However, for the rest of us that fund the cost of regulation, this is the road to serfdom.
Russell Cartner
17:39 PM, 13th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Neil Cobbold words fail me, actualy I can't say what I think of him. With the removal of section 21 it will be incredibly harder to remove any tenant for whatever reason and It isn't easy now. Letting Pets into the home, you could have 50 dogs, cats, snakes, horses running round. You just have to read the comments to see getting out as fast as you can is the best option and I am.
Beaver
18:14 PM, 13th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Desmond at 13/06/2023 - 15:57
Regulation is an industry in itself. A lot of those quangos established by Margaret Thatcher became self-serving entities.
When new regulation is introduced there is supposed to be a regulatory impact assessment to weigh up the benefit of the regulation versus the cost. But I've not seen much evidence of that in the years I've been a landlord.
Julius Caesar
18:01 PM, 14th June 2023, About 11 months ago
This guy doesn't have skin in the game in the same way that landlords do - he represents a company that makes money from financial transactions between landlords and tenants.
He might as well run an ice cream van for all that his views on the PRS matter (to landlords).
David Houghton
20:04 PM, 14th June 2023, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 13/06/2023 - 14:42
But they just tried to pressurise supermarkets into price control
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