The National Residential Landlords Association has released its manifesto for the 2021 Welsh Parliament elections – and it makes the case for fundamental reform.

The association wants the private rented sector to be regarded as part of the solution to the housing crisis and not a problem. 

The NRLA has six key calls for parties standing next year – to streamline licensing; support landlords and tenants; improve homes; introduce a Welsh Housing Survey; improve justice for landlords and tenants; and reject rent controls and Right To Rent.

It wants an end to the need for local licensing by adopting requirements in national frameworks, introducing a housing court, and removing the additional homes Land Transaction Tax surcharge to encourage empty home purchases. 

The NRLA argues that some of the proposals such as deposit passporting – which allows tenants to move deposits to new properties without needing to raise a second deposit – and a Welsh Housing Survey are needed to prevent Wales falling behind new reforms and long-standing provisions in England. 

Other areas the manifesto focuses on are grants and loans to improve energy efficiency and end fuel poverty for private tenants, using council tax more holistically to tackle empty homes, and ensuring the UK-wide Right To Rent scheme is not applied in the devolved nations. 

“Our proposals will improve the rights of tenants and landlords demonstrating it is perfectly possible to do both, rather than sacrificing one for the other” explains Ben Beadle, the NRLA chief executive.

“Our flagship priority is to streamline licensing in Wales, ending inefficient and expensive local schemes by incorporating standards into new, national frameworks. 

“After four pieces of legislation in six years, the PRS can really use a break from large-scale change and use some assistance in meeting shared goals to the benefit of both landlord and tenant. Our manifesto achieves that.”