The Renters (Reform) Bill will harm tenants and landlords, warns property expert

The Renters (Reform) Bill will harm tenants and landlords, warns property expert

0:01 AM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago 27

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A property expert is warning that the Renters (Reform) Bill, which aims to end no-fault evictions and improve security for tenants, will have negative consequences for both tenants and landlords.

Chris Daniel, who has more than 20 years of experience in the property sector, said that the Bill will make it harder for landlords to regain possession of their properties in cases of rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, or damage.

He says that the current possession process is already ineffective and does not provide adequate means for property owners to control the misuse of their private properties.

And he warns that the bill will only worsen the situation by removing Section 21, which allows landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason if they provide two months’ notice.

‘Increase the cost of rented homes’

Mr Daniel of Possession Friend, a service that helps landlords with eviction cases, told Property118: “The Renters (Reform) Bill will reduce the supply and increase the cost of rented homes in the UK.

“Fewer properties will be available and rents will rise.”

He added: “If only tenants could realise the impending consequences that will affect them.”

Mr Daniel also debunked the accusation of landlords profiting by rent increases, saying that tribunals often award a higher rent than that challenged by tenants.

The portrayal of landlords in the media

However, Mr Daniel also criticises the portrayal of landlords in the media as being either anti-landlord and biased – or uninformed and misled by tenant campaign groups.

He says that coverage of the private rented sector needs to be reported by journalists with a ‘straight bat’.

Mr Daniel also highlights the shortage of housing, the gaming tactics of local authorities and the flawed Universal Credit system as being major issues for landlords to deal with.

There are also issues with tenants who ‘game the system’.

The shortage of rental accommodation

Mr Daniel also argues that the shortage of rental accommodation is not due to private landlords buying up housing stock, but down to councils and governments failing to meet tenant demand.

He outlined the gaming tactics of local authorities, such as deceiving private landlords on benefit placements, or advising tenants to breach possession orders, incur costs, and sustain a CCJ.

He also says that the government is effectively supporting councils to transfer their responsibility for dealing with anti-social behaviour onto landlords via licensing schemes.

Mr Daniel adds that landlords are also not discriminating against tenants on benefit, but it is the flawed Universal Credit system that landlords avoid, as it causes delays and uncertainties in payments.


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Comments

Mick Roberts

10:46 AM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Well said Chris,
U know & I/we know this is gonna' cut supply further - Rents rising. But the tenants like the sound of it, so vote for the MP portraying it.

JamesB

12:25 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Mr Daniel is correct on all points.

Reluctant Landlord

13:00 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

can this guy stand in the GE please!

Jimmy Smith

13:31 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

The renters reform bill is not being introduced to help tenants or landlords its being introduced to get votes for politicians.

Bristol Landlord

13:53 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

The renters reform bill is being introduced to pitch tenants against landlords. The intent is to drive landlords out of the PRS and deliver the entire investment sector into the arms of the big home builders and corporate landlords. Then the more the UK PRS becomes corporatised the more it becomes an attractive investment sector for the likes of international investment advisors and managers such as BlackRock.
It is no coincidence that George Osborne, after causing much damage to landlords and then leaving the Govt, for a short period became an “advisor” to BlackRock.
Clearly he was rewarded not for his services to the public but to international corporations.
The RRB is just part of the Govt multi pronged War on Landlords in order to make us give up and sell up.
I got the message loud and clear.

Michael Booth

13:57 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Well well well here we have it the rrb will make rental more expensive ,there will be less rental property available landlords.leaving in there thousands near 250k of property left the sector, who would every thought that would happen , well SHELTER,AND THE OTHER HOUSING CHARITIES ALONG WITHGOVE ,RAYNOR YA REAP WHAT YOU SOW AND THERE IS MORE TO COME,l for one will leave the prs after 25 years leaving 15 families homeless,

Ian Narbeth

14:13 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Jimmy Smith at 08/02/2024 - 13:31
"The renters reform bill is not being introduced to help tenants or landlords its being introduced to get votes for politicians"
That may have been Mr Gove's cunning plan: "Let's stab our most loyal supporters in the back 'cos they will vote for us anyway and we'll pick up votes from renters" but it's not working out that way as (a) he hasn't delivered the Renters Reform Bill and (b) having driven some landlords out rents are rising for tenants. It's Lose Lose.

Ian Narbeth

14:16 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Bristol Landlord at 08/02/2024 - 13:53
I don't think it's as thought through as that. Black Rock and their ilk are not remotely interested in the 1930s semi or terraced house in the Midlands or a northern town. They want new flats in secondary areas where they can charge premium rents to yuppies.

Mick Roberts

14:19 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 08/02/2024 - 14:13
Well said Ian twice:
its being introduced to get votes for politicians"

And yes Black Rock & Legal & General & Co. are gonna' be having the cream stack em high £1200pm apartments. Meanwhile our low earning tenants will be more stuffed than they are now.

Monty Bodkin

14:40 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 08/02/2024 - 14:13
"That may have been Mr Gove's cunning plan: "Let's stab our most loyal supporters in the back 'cos they will vote for us anyway and we'll pick up votes from renters" but it's not working out that way as (a) he hasn't delivered the Renters Reform Bill and (b) having driven some landlords out rents are rising for tenants. It's Lose Lose."

I think Gove knows exactly what he's doing. It's not going to be him dealing with the obvious awful consequences.

It's a stitch up for the next Labour government. They will have great political difficulty backing out of it however stupid and ill thought through it is.

It's Win Win for Gove and the Cons.

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