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Landlord relief at consultation before Renters Reform Bill becomes law

The landlords’ trade body has given its support to the principle of consultation before the much-hyped Renters Reform Bill becomes law.

Yesterday’s Queen’s Speech suggested that the Renters Reform Bill, first mooted in 2019, would finally reach the House of Commons for consideration later this year, starting with a White Paper expected in the autumn to trigger more consultation.

Until now most industry bodies have been sceptical of the Bill’s principles, which have been centred around scrapping existing Section 21 eviction powers, improving the right to possession under Section 8, and introducing so-called lifetime deposits which make it easier and cheaper for tenants to move between rental properties.

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However, the National Residential Landlords Association says its pleased that the government has committed to consulting widely before rushing into legislation.

Chief executive Ben Beadle says: “We welcome the government’s commitment to publish a White Paper on reforms to the rental sector and consult widely before introducing a Bill.

“What is proposed amounts to some of the biggest changes in the private rented sector for over 30 years. We urge the Government and all others in the sector to use the time they now have to ensure that the reforms are fair and workable for both tenants and landlords.

“This must include comprehensive grounds upon which landlords can legitimately repossess properties, the development of a new tenant-landlord conciliation service to help sustain tenancies wherever possible and court reform to ensure possession cases are dealt with much quicker than the year or more currently being taken.

“Lifetime deposits for tenants provide an opportunity to reduce the upfront cost of renting, but they need to work for all concerned.

“We welcome also the Government’s ambitions to drive out bad landlords from the sector without penalising those who do the right thing. We want to root out all those who bring the sector into disrepute.”

The Association of Residential Letting Agents, part of Propertymark, has also backed the White Paper idea.

 

 

Timothy Douglas - policy and campaigns manager at Propertymark - says: “The announcement … that the government will publish a Renters Reform White Paper in the Autumn demonstrates that Ministers are prepared to engage with the industry to understand the impact any substantial legislative changes will have on those involved in the private rented sector” he says.

“With the focus of the new package on lifetime deposits, landlord redress and greater enforcement, the government must look at ensuring that a system that would allow deposits to be passported can only take place if there is a bridging loan, with the government as the guarantor, in order to ensure the remaining part of the deposit is covered should the tenant default. 

“Additionally, the government must prevent ‘double jeopardy’ and only extend redress membership to properties that are fully managed.”

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    ............the National Residential Landlords Association says its pleased that the government has committed to consulting widely before rushing into legislation.............
    Nice thought but the Gov't will take no notice as they will work to their own agenda regardless as they always do. Unless you know different.

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    The NRLA now support and lobby for students HMO to still have S21 or similar. How about the rest of the HMO market that is needed, either shared proffesional or even single let HMO where ASB needs to be dealt with quickly (via S21) to keep the remaining tenants safe. HMO's very different to a single occupancy

     
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    Exactly no consultation just like the Licensing Schemes, just pretend going through the motions, then the so called period ended that’s your consultation.

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    Consultation!!! They will openly show contempt with that one just like the licencing. If they listened to our concerns with the actions they put on to us this could all have been fixed years ago.
    Our landlord mouthpiece NRLA is inept

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    I'm confused, there was a scrapping S21 consulation back in 2019 - a major flawed one as didnt include or recognise HMO - are they revisting it actually do a proper consultation?

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    I woiuld suggest that the real problem is a 'one size fits all' AST. We need different tenancies for different situations. HYMO lets, student academic year lets, tempory absence of owner lets with a definite end date and of course the good old AST for lifetime lets.
    One size does not fit all.

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    That would of course make a lot of sense and be fair to all, sadly cannot see it happening though.

     
  • David Lester

    As there seems to be a great deal of chatter and whinging, would it be an idea that Landlord Today, National Residential Landlords Association, or some other body to comply a communication covering all of the Landlords concerns, suggestions etc. Once compiled make available to Landlords for them to send to their MP's, Councils and even Tenants!

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    I've tried writing to my MP, George Freeman, kind words but in truth he like every other MP isn't interested in the least.

     
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    What does this mean: “Additionally, the government must prevent ‘double jeopardy’ and only extend redress membership to properties that are fully managed.”

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    I thought that! What about very conscientious self managing landlords who provide good homes for their tenants? Should we not also be protected or should we only take new tenants who are entering the market with a full deposit up front. I would not be happy to start a tenancy without an absolute guarantee that the full deposit is coming.
    It actually might be a way of weeding out the bad tenants though because there would have to be a way of letting the new landlord know how much of the deposit they are expecting from the deposit protection agency. If not 100% I would certainly want to know why.

     
  • James B

    Get homeowner guarantors .. the only protection a landlord can get now
    The consultation will be absolutely pointless.. there is big tenant votes at stake here so landlords have no chance

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    How is the renters Reform Bill Going to be Fair to Landlords.
    170 regulations to Comply with. Donate our Properties to the Tenant for Life. Tenant cannot be bothered to change battery in the smoke alarm . so big fine for the landlord. Can any body tell me one sentence in these reports which are fair to Private Landlords.
    The NRLA should be balloting their members to find out what we really want . And if any aspect of this detrimental to the members. They should be advising the members to sell up, or move on any Tenants without a Guarantor . and advise the government of the same. Not keep welcoming any thing. If the Government is hell bent on destroying the Private rental sector it should be prepared to the tenants that do not pass muster.

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