A prominent property group says landlords can only cope with the upcoming rental reform programme under Labour if they work with “trusted” lettings agents.

Mark Lawrinson of Beresford Property Group, in a statement on how the property industry should welcome the Starmer government, says: “Labour wants to see a private rented sector that provides decent, safe and secure homes at a price people can afford. It is therefore essential for landlords to work with trusted agents to ensure they are aware of their right and responsibilities.”

He says there are opportunities for landlords: “The rental market remains robust, offering significant opportunities for Landlords. Labour’s focus on tenant rights and rental market regulation is expected to create a balanced environment, ensuring fair play for both landlords and tenants, which is likely to sustain high demand for rental properties.

“High demand for rental properties is expected to persist, driven by Labour’s commitment to improving rental conditions and increasing the supply of affordable rental homes. This ensures that rental yields will remain attractive, making it an excellent time for landlords to expand their portfolios.”

Beresford says the housing crisis is well known to be one of the country’s biggest barriers to growth but Labour’s commitment to ‘get Britain building again’ has laid out plans to build 1.5m new homes over the next parliament; the government plans a more strategic approach to green belt land, prioritising brown and grey belt land for development, with more affordable housing and public service provision.

Lawrinson says: “Developers are in a strong position as the demand for new homes continues to grow. Labour’s housing policies, including plans to streamline planning processes, are expected to boost the new homes sector significantly.

“With Labour’s commitment to affordable housing and increased support for first-time buyers, the party manifesto has promised a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs. The market is expected to benefit from a number of new policies aimed at making home ownership more accessible. Policies including the proposed ‘Freedom to Buy’ scheme and maintained stamp duty reforms make it an opportune moment to enter the property market.”