Good landlords have nothing to fear from rental reforms, the Housing Minister has claimed.

Speaking on LBC yesterday after the Renters’ Rights Bill was published and confirmed bans on ‘no-fault’ evictions and rental bidding wars, Matthew Pennycook said “good landlords have nothing to fear from these reforms.”

He rebuffed warnings that landlords could raise rents or sell-up in response to the new legislation, adding: “We recognise that most landlords provide a good service to their tenants. 

“We want to drive out disreputable landlords from the sector, but good landlords through this Bill will have robust grounds for possession when they need to take their properties back.”

It comes as the latest RICS Residential Market Survey this morning shows new landlord instructions in August once again saw a negative trend, with the net balance slipping to -21% from -9% in July.

Anecdotally, agents said landlords were selling up due to first of tax changes and the end of Section 21 notices.