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Green Party manifesto “an attack on landlords”

The Green Party has launched its manifesto which contains what the National Landlords Association (NLA) described as a “one-sided view of the PRS”.

The Greens propose the following:

  • A 'living rent' tenancy (including five-year fixed tenancy agreements).
  • Smart rent control that caps annual rent increases linked to the Consumer Price Index.
  • Security of tenancy and local not-for-profit letting agencies.
  • Abolishing letting agents' fees and insurance-based deposit schemes.
  • Setting up a Living Rent Commission to explore whether controls could bring rents more in line with local average incomes.
  • Introducing a mandatory licensing scheme for landlords.
  • Abolishing tax deductions against a variety of expenditures, including mortgage interest relief.
  • Increasing the supply of small lets by raising the tax-free amount under the Rent a Room Scheme to £7,250 a year.

The NLA said: “The Green Party appear to want people to rent however does not take into account the demands on landlords to provide safe and decent housing for those families. Rent controls have been proven not to work and many landlords will just sell up and leave the sector if they are introduced.

“Five-year tenancies will reduce the flexibility within the PRS that suits landlords and tenants alike, and this policy does not take into account the fact that tenants can ask for longer tenancies already under the current system.”

Meanwhile the Conservative party manifesto contained little mention of the PRS, focusing instead on reforming Right to Buy and building more homes.

Labour would legislate to make three-year tenancies the norm, put a ceiling on excessive rent rises, ban letting agent fees and introduce a national register of private landlords. The NLA has criticised the lack of detail behind the policies.

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