Court Reform first, then scrap Section 21 - landlord leader tells MPs
Rental reforms will not work unless the government reforms the court system, a landlord leader has told NPs.
Giving evidence on the Renters Reform Bill to MPs, Ben Beadle - chief executive of the National Association of Residential Landlords Association - spoke of his frustration over the delays to court reform.
He said: "We’ve been very clear that responsible landlords need to be able to have alternative grounds they can rely on and they need to have confidence in the system which underpins it".
As well as calling for clear commitments on how long possession cases will take to be processed, Beadle asked for more detail on what the government’s proposed ‘digitised’ system for handling cases will look like in practice.
He also reiterated the need for “significant investment” in staff numbers across the court system.
This follows newly-released figures from the Ministry of Justice, which indicate that it takes over half a year for courts to process legitimate possession claims made by private landlords.
Beadle warned that, if Section 21 is abolished by the Bill becoming law, without in parallel introducing a mechanism for processing legitimate possession cases, tenants are likely to suffer as landlords weigh up whether to stay in the market.
During the session all panel members highlighted the supply and demand imbalance, with Theresa Wallace from the Lettings Industry Council pointing to new RICS figures which underline the extent of the supply crisis.
Beadle reiterated that the Bill must strike the balance between fairness to tenants and landlords if the proposals are to succeed in improving the private rented sector.
MPs will continue to take evidence on the Bill today as Committee stage continues.
After the session Beadle said: “The sector faces its most dramatic legislative upheaval in decades and, as a result, landlords need to have confidence that the Renters Reform Bill’s proposed changes will allow them to continue to deliver high-quality private rented accommodation.
“With the market continuing to face widespread instability, the government simply can’t afford to ignore the need for court reform.”
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His words were countered by the Mayor of Salford, an expert on the court system allegedly, who stated there were no court delays and S21 should be removed without delay. Not sure where he got his information from, perhaps Polly whispered in his ear, but landlords’ ACTUAL experiences on here do not agree.
The trouble with all these activists is that they make ex-cathedra statements based on their ideological position, rather than hard evidence Their reasoning often seems to begin with the proposition that all property should be in social ownership and not owned by individuals. You can see that in the Renters Reform Bill, too.
I saw Angela Rayner on ITV’s report off more S21s very aggressively putting all landlords “on notice” she’s going to abolish them! Hahaha the circus is coming to town 🤡🤡🤡🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️☠️☠️☠️
Landlords invest hundreds of thousands of pounds in properties and they must have the ability to get tenants to leave when necessary. No landlord wants to remove a good tenant, why would they? The present AST system works fine and should be retained.
Labour will just press the nuclear button 💥 🆘
Get rid of Ben Beadle. Scrap THE RENTERS REFORM BILL Reinstate Section 21 fully.
De-Amalgamate NLA and RLA Bing back Mr Richard Lambert CEO of NLA.
We were led up the garden path what is it with all those 43 year olds born was silver spoon in the mouth.
I agree, Michael- Ben Beadle only speaks for himself, but purports, without providing the evidence, to speak for all landlords.
Your posts are accurate and based on a wealth of real experience which is why they are powerful.
This is amazing that Ben Beadle now comes out with all this after having long lunches with Gove. He wins an award recently too and now pipes up after being quiet for a pair of years.
So let us put into context, Gove contacts our Ben and the conversation goes like this. Ben I need your views on the RRB and S21 specifically, if you could do me a favour and say how bad it will be then we as the government will row back on a few things which may help you. In return I will grease the wheels of opportunity for you....
Ben says will it involve jeopardising my student portfolio?
Absolute shower the lot of them
This is my view. Gove has gone in hard. Understands from Beadle what he needs for some support. Beadle says exempt student housing. Okay mate.
Don't think he's done a good job. Kept quiet for too long. Now has a bit to say. All too little too late.
Disappointing that the "Activist’s Twitter war of words continues" article has had comments turned off again... Sometimes the comments are better than the articles!
Noticed they have been turned off, enjoyed reading the article about Beadles About and Captain Darling.
Kim Jon Norwood and the heavy hand of censorship strikes again. 1984 anyone?
I watched Ben yesterday on parliament TV and was very disappointed with his input for student landlords. Whilst others on the panel were calling for fixed term rental agreements specifically for students he outlined that he was happy with the suggested proposals being suggested by the government. Why oh why would he not ask for fixed term rentals for students. Very poor.
In 2020 in a meeting with Shelter, Gen Rant, the government etc. he shrugged he "didn't have a problem" with S21 going. Disgraceful.
I had my renewal notice today. Not sure if I want to renew while he is in charge.
It is possible perhaps that there will still be some form of fixed term tenancies allowed which are not exclusively for students.
Anyone who doesn’t sell up & get out before Labour get their skewed ideological mits on the PRS is very brave indeed. They are out to get us and the irreparable harm they will do to vulnerable families desperate for somewhere decent to live will, in their view be acceptable collateral damage. They will never be able to build the numbers of Social Housing needed &, as with every Labour Government since the war will eventually be kicked out leaving a far worse mess for others to clear up!
I have a tenant from a previous incarnation of rental law. I have no rights whatsoever, he can stay there for the rest of his days and then pass on tenancy to a partner. He complains about everything, calls out the police if anyone dares so much as look sideways at him. He regularly goes to CAB and complains to local council and thinks he has the run of the place over and above everyone else. He has caused untold friction for me. He has been in jail, during which time his mother paid his rent so that he didn't lose tenancy, yet I still have to house him at a subsidised rent. So beware, new laws have to be vehemently opposed and understood, otherwise Angela Rayner will be right, 'they'll be coming for us', and landlords will lose total control over their properties.
It's this sort of thing I fear the most. I prefer to keep S21. It works albeit it has been watered down. I am not prepared to chance new legislation with all of the unintended consequences coming out in new case law.
As we have seen, today the Supreme Court can overturn parliament.
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