An angry reader has contacted Landlord Today with a letter from housing minister Rachel Maclean – which the recipient has branded :the usual rubbish”. 

The landlord – who has asked not to be named – contacted her local MP to complain specifically about what she calls the “potential destruction” of the private rental sector when Section 21 powers are scrapped. A few weeks ago we published the response she received from an officer in the rental division of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Now the same landlord, who initially contacted her local MP, has received a letter directly from the housing minister.

In the letter to the landlord McLean says she “does not accept that our reforms will lead to a significant exodus of Landlords or have a destabilising effect on the market” and goes on to claim “that supply has remained stable in Scotland since S21 was abolished”.  

The angry landlord has told Landlord Today: “Ms McLean must be living in an alternative universe. I understand that Edinburgh University is currently struggling to provide student accommodation due to the changes to periodic tenancies imposed by the Scottish National Party.  I am also aware from many reports that there is a real problem with a lack of rentals available across Scotland as a whole with businesses unable to provide accommodation in some areas for example for seasonal staff.  I am flabbergasted that Ms McLean would perceive in any way shape or form that the supply of rental properties remains stable and can only conclude that this is a twist on – there remains a stable lack of supply?”

The landlord goes on to tell Landlord Today: “I received over 30 applications for the house I advertised within a couple of days. Due to the proposed legislation there are many tenants who, a few years ago I might have considered, I reject without even a viewing because I have to consider that if I have a problem I will be facing a protracted court process and do not know what the terms will be for being able to repossess my house should I need to.”  

She continues: “I have had single mothers, single pregnant women and people with disabilities applying telling me that they have had their applications refused on multiple occasions and cannot even get a viewing.  With rising rents due to lack of supply and increased interest rates exacerbated by S24 – many of the applicants simply do not meet affordability thresholds.”  

Here is the contents of the letter to the landlord from minister Maclean. It was sent to the landlord’s MP and references to the name of the landlord have been redacted at her request. 

The Renters Reform Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 17 May 2023, will deliver a fairer, more secure, and higher quality private rented sector that is fit for the 21st century. 

We recognise the role that good landlords play in providing homes to millions of people across the country and so our package of reforms strikes the right balance between providing renters with the increased security they need whilst also improving and strengthening support for landlords and giving them the tools to charge a fair rent and reclaim their properties when they need to.

I am sorry that [name] feels her concerns as a landlord are not understood. I am also grateful for her regard for renters: good landlords like [name] both care for their properties and care about the tenants who occupy them. 

I would like to reassure her that our reforms are designed to ensure tenants can rent decent, secure homes from which they can put down roots in their communities, take up jobs and build stable lives.

This is also why the Bill will legislate to abolish section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, which [name] mentions. I hope she will see that this will give tenants greater security in their homes and empower them to challenge poor conditions. However, it will also reform possession grounds so that landlords have confidence in repossessing their property where they need to. Again, we know that the overwhelming majority of landlords provide a good service and reforms are designed to work for tenants and landlords alike. 

I do not accept that our reforms will lead to a significant exodus of landlords or have a destabilising effect on a market, which has housed a relatively stable proportion of households in England for the last decade – a period which, as [name] notes, has seen some significant changes for landlords.

We are introducing our planned reforms in a managed way and I would note, for example, that supply has remained stable in Scotland since section21 was abolished.

I recognise of course that there is a need for more homes to address the imbalance more generally between demand and supply. Housebuilding is a priority for the government.

We have committed to continue working towards our ambition of delivering 300,000 homes per year to help create a more sustainable and affordable housing market and we are making strong progress. Annual supply is up 10 per cent in 2021/22 compared to the previous year with over 232,000 net additional homes delivered. This is the third-highest yearly rate for the last 30 years.

Please extend my gratitude to [name] for taking the time to raise her concerns.

Yours sincerely

Rachel Maclean MP

Minister of State for Housing and Planning