In an unusual intervention for a lettings industry supplier, Zoopla has made an impassioned plea for a new Renters Reform Bill.

The last attempt to pass such a Bill ran out of time when the government called the General Election but a statement from Zoopla this morning says: “While a General Election means the Rental Reform Bill failed to make it to the statute books, rental reform is still needed in the rental sector to improve the protections for existing renters.”

The portal says a further “big policy focus” of a new Government should be on boosting the stock of homes for rent – both private and social – through increased housing delivery supported by additional funding and reforms to the planning system. 

Zoopla continues: “This is the best option to improve the choice for renters and improve the quality of homes for rent. It’s important political parties set out specific policies to support the private rented sector in manifestos.”

In terms of its forecast for the rest of 2024, Zoopla says the market is still on track for a slowdown in rental growth to 5%.

This is being driven by changes in demand and affordability, rather than any expansion in supply which the portal believes should be a key focus area for any incoming government. 

In response to Zoopla’s comments Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, says: “Our member agents have told us for years of the growing disparity in the number of private rented homes on the market in comparison to the rising demand from tenants.

“As legal and financial obligations increase for landlords, it’s no surprise that many are turning elsewhere to invest their money. A priority for the new UK Government should be to support and incentivise landlords to invest, not to deter or penalise them like we’ve continued to see in the past.

“We want to get rent levels back down to sensible and affordable levels for the nation, and without a boost in supply, this is unlikely to happen.”