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0:01 AM, 24th October 2023, About 6 months ago 5
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A think tank is demanding the government reform the private rented sector with a list of recommendations.
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) welcomes the news of the Renters’ Reform Bill and is strongly encouraging MPs to back its key measures including scrapping Section 21.
In its ‘Raising the Roof Report’ the think tank urges the government to introduce a specialist housing court.
The Centre for Social Justice says ending no-fault evictions will help give tenants security.
The report said: “The government should follow through with the abolition of Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
“This will give tenants greater security of tenure, feeling they can put down roots more easily. Further, it will give tenants greater confidence to challenge landlords through official processes where there are good reasons for doing so.”
The think tank cautions that the removal of Section 21 must not make housing “unworkable for landlords”.
“The government should ensure that the abolition of Section 21 does not make housing unworkable for landlords.
“The grounds in Section 8 must be overhauled into a robust system including mandatory grounds for landlords wishing to sell their properties, landlords and their close family members wishing to move into a rental property, and landlords needing to evict tenants where there have been repeated serious rent arrears.
“There should also be clear guidance issued around anti-social behaviour cases, and these should be prioritised in the courts.”
The think tank says a specialist housing court will help provide reassurance to landlords and tenants.
The report said: “The introduction of a specialist housing court which would be able to process claims more efficiently. Whilst it would not be wise to introduce specialist courts for each area of law, there can be good grounds for doing so.
“In the case of housing, the need to reassure tenants and landlords that the courts can handle large numbers of possession cases means a specialist housing court is justified. It would also substantially free up judicial capacity in other areas as well.”
Sam Bruce, head of housing and communities at the Centre for Social Justice said: “Good landlords provide a really important service in our economy.
“However we also hear about the negative effects of rogue landlords, particularly among households with low incomes. We want to see more powers for local authorities to enforce against landlords who don’t comply with the law. We also support the introduction of a new property portal.
“It’s important we provide reassurance to good landlords that the market will continue to function well.”
The CSJ says it’s important to improve the energy efficiency quality of PRS homes.
The report said: “Currently, PRS properties must meet an EPC standard of E. This itself is not a particularly high bar, and we should aim for a PRS which, in general, has higher standards where reaching them is practically feasible and financially viable.
For this reason, we support the government’s aspiration for “all fuel-poor homes to be upgraded to be EPC C by 2035 where practical, cost-effective and affordable.”
The full report can be read here.
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Chased by a utility company? 
LL Minion
10:21 AM, 24th October 2023, About 6 months ago
another do gooder/thunk bunk organisation creaming off the tax payer to tell us what we already know.
. Why not just have a go at the councils to actually enforce the powers they already have?
Paul Essex
13:08 PM, 24th October 2023, About 6 months ago
Their demands will come true as the majority of landlords with normal tenants leave and just the high earners will be left in luxury high quality apartments.
Frank Jennings
20:18 PM, 24th October 2023, About 6 months ago
Ha Ha Ha Ha! That's so funny. A Think tank! Thinking hard on how to get rid of landlords rights and getting their properties under the govenments total control, so the landlords all leave the PRS by selling up, and thereby diminishing the available properties to rent!
These unelected bureaucrats love to keep meddling in what was a thriving PRS collection of businesses. They are all just making it worse and worse for renters and landlords alike. What with section 24, a tax on the rental income, not the profit. No other business could survive under these draconian rules. Unsurprisingly the PRS will not survive either. Thatcher had the right idea, after there was no PRS in the 70's because of the govenments stupid rules making a PRS business untenable. The councils couldn't make council housing work because of the ridiculously low rents being charged by the council. The govenment dont want to fall into that trap again, so they hope big business and the banks will run a new PRS. It will mean double the rents and much poorer service for the tennants. Probably becoming much worse than the 70's for renters. The landlords will be fine. They will sell up and invest in something more profitable. The govenment have swung that pendulum too hard this time, and there will be a lot of unexpected and unnecessary suffering before it swings right again. Getting rid of S21 will be the end of properties to rent and tennants.
Back to the 1970's again, here we come!
GlanACC
8:48 AM, 25th October 2023, About 6 months ago
Do councils and housing associations pay tax using S24, if they did they would be bust as their repair costs and admin must nearly equal the income from rent.
Frank Jennings
10:42 AM, 25th October 2023, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 25/10/2023 - 08:48
No they don't pay the S24 tax. Only private landlords do. How unfair is that? Only big companies will survive and thrive, as they can offset their mortgage interest costs/expenses and obtain a tax relief.
Also note housing associations and councils are not subject to the punishing fines the private landlord is subjected to in the courts. It's one rule for them, and another for private landlords, as far as fines and the courts are concerned.