Senior MPs have been told by the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association that they must provide financial assistance to the private rental sector.
Ben Beadle - giving evidence at the Housing, Communities & Local Government Select Committee - explained that his organisation teamed up with other groups that are typically critical of landlords, such as Citizens Advice and Shelter.
This unlikely alliance was because there was a need, recognised across the rental sector, to have a package of loans or grants available for tenants with Covid-related arrears.
He also told the committee that policy changes made by the government in response to the pandemic are causing significant hardship to some landlords, in particular those whose tenants were in significant arrears pre-Covid.
He said that rather than small tweaks to policy, the government should make a solid commitment to supporting the sector to prevent greater problems from building.
“What we are lacking is a longer-term strategy to help the sector and I think the measures we have laid out with our colleagues from Crisis and Citizens Advice and others are a route to sustaining tenancies, which is what everyone wants” he told MPs.
He continued: “With the economic forecast being as it is, it's inevitable more people are not going to be able to afford to pay their rent. The focus has to be on better supporting the sector to help both landlords and tenants through this period.”
Beadle cited a research project in the early autumn showing that 97 per cent of landlords had not issued notice since the start of lockdown.
He also reiterated the NRLA’s commitment to encouraging landlords to work with their tenants to keep tenancies going and the development of the key rules, drawn up by the NRLA and included in government guidance to help landlords reach agreements with their tenants and stay out of court.
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We don't want handouts, just ensure our tenants pay up ( through loans if necessary ) and get out if they won't pay.
“with our colleagues from Crisis and Citizens Advice” says it all really.
Their actions are in effect making people homeless.
Tenant applies for loan/grant made payable to LL if they qualify. Jail those who fraudulently apply
If they want to hang landlords out to dry by making them carry defaulting tenants so they don’t go to the council, they should at least support those landlords
Well that's amazingly scientific, ground-breaking news !!! that 97% of landlords didn't apply to evict a tenant ( When the legal process for doing so, was pulled from underneath them to financially off-load the Govt's welfare responsibilities onto private landlords )
I also heard a study has shown night follows day !
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