The National Residential Landlords Association has taken the unusual step of extending an olive branch to the activists who run the Generation Rent ginger group.
The association concedes a major point to the activists in the debate over the Renters Reform Bill: however, so far this appears to have been brushed off by the activists.
Speaking ahead of the final stages of the Bill in the House of Commons today, NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle says: “This Bill delivers a fair deal for tenants and responsible landlords. In the interests of certainty for the sector it is now time to ensure the Bill passes through Parliament.
“For renters, the Bill will abolish section 21 repossessions and fixed term tenancies, introduce a Decent Homes Standard for the sector, a new Ombudsman and Property Portal which landlords will have to join as well as measures to protect families and those in receipt of benefits from discrimination.
“Going forward, it will always be for the courts to decide if landlords have met the threshold to repossess a property based on a series of legitimate reasons. This includes tenant anti-social behaviour, serious rent arrears or where a landlord plans to sell a property.
“That said, the tenant group, Generation Rent, has rightly warned that landlords selling properties is ‘a leading cause of homelessness.’ The only answer to this is ensuring responsible landlords feel confident enough to stay in the market. Greater security for tenants will mean nothing if the rental homes are not there in the first place.
“A number of the amendments proposed to the Bill enact recommendations by the cross-party housing select committee. Taken together they would ensure a balanced Bill that protects tenants and ensures it is viable for responsible landlords to continuing renting properties out.”
There are over 200 amendments to the Renters Reform Bill having its Third Reading in the Commons today. However, even before hearing the debate, Generation Rent has spoken out against them.
Ben Twomey, chief executive. comments: "Everyone deserves to feel secure in their own home, which is why the government committed to end section 21 no fault evictions over five years ago. The Renters Reform Bill does not deliver the original promise that landlords will 'no longer be able to unexpectedly evict families with only eight weeks notice'.
"Renters were promised once-in-a-generation change but if this Bill passes in its current form, we could still be just a couple of months away from homelessness, even if we play by all the rules set by landlords. That's why as a bare minimum we're calling on the government to double eviction notice periods to four months, while increasing the time tenants can spend in their home without fear of eviction from six months to two years.”
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So now landlords selling up is a “leading cause” of homelessness's. 😡Now why do the two geniuses of Ben and Ben suppose that is? 🤔 To save them scratching their heads for an answer, I suggest that they LOOK IN THE MIRROR. 😠
Yes guys, your actions and those of your friend, Polly Bleat, have led to us selling. Too late now to change course because NONE of you would be believed, especially Bungling Boy Beadle. 🤬
100% correct. They make the environment totally hostile then vilify us for leaving.
Landlords selling up is a “leading cause” of homelessness's. Talk about admitting it's their fault...
The comment about us “ selling up” being a leading cause of homelessness is a VERY worrying statement 😬😬 I have a bad feeling about this 🥵🥵🤷♂️🤷♂️
So do I - it is called Lifetime Tenancy with the Landlord unable to sell the property.
My thoughts exactly Simon... Sell whilst you still can!!
There isn’t a single point being made on behalf of landlords. So they keep contradicting themselves. It is like a kid in a candy store. One thing for sure, they accept landlords are leaving the market. They will try and stop that. The worry is what tactics will they use? Time to safe guard your investments or leave.
The recent reduction in capital gains tax would lead me to think they are incentivising landlords to leave.
My take is that being a landlord is going to become exceptionally fruitful in the next 2+ decades, with very high capital growth. That's why big corp is getting into property heavily now, and that's why they want rid of the small landlord.....
They want all the spoils for themselves!
I thought GenRent WANTED LLs to sell up! In their minds a smaller PRS was good news. Maybe they have now realised what this is going to mean for tenants!
If landlords sell up then it due to the kicking we have all had from tenants not paying, councils advising them to sit tight until bailiffs turn up, Gen Rent, Shelter etc all advising the same nonsense. Add in the government taxing the living Sh1t out of us and you wonder why they are selling up.
If I may add one comment that ALL THESE GROUPS HAVE FORGOTTON, WE (LANDLORDS) OWN THE PROPERTIES SO IT IS OUR DECISION TO STAY OR SELL.
Not for much longer, I fear.
I think Gen Rent have finally realised more LL sell up then more homelessness as councils don't have houses ready to put people who get evicted into. Pity they didn't grasp this concept quicker. It was so glaringly obvious. The more stringent rules for LL the more we'll sell up. I read yesterday Labour are considering a selling ban of 2 years for LL. So preventing LL from selling their own properties. I wish these groups would remember these houses don't belong to the tenants or Labour government but to the LL.
Good Luck with Labour trying to enforce that, I would rather leave it empty if I was selling it or put one of my daughters in there with a single person 25% discount on the council tax.
Try telling that to HMRC when its Probate! Morons.
Remember before Thatcher introduced the AST . Tenants were in for Life , Rents were fixed very low. and the Value of the Property was more than Halved . There are still properties with Tenants under the old system now.
I remember those days. When Section 21 was introduced a vast number of new landlords entered the market giving tenants a very wide choice of decent places to live. The government should cease listening to the activists and look at market forces.
So l need a Court to decide if l have met a f-ing THRESHOLD to get MY OWN PROPERTY back, eh Ben?
No wonder Landlords are getting the Hell out whilst they can. And, going forward, Landlords who remain, will not touch prospects on Benefits etc, but will only consider those with a Stella Credit score, solid well paying job, savings and HOG.
And of Course Landlords are Selling Up . The Government decided in 2016 to drive us out with Taxation and Legislation. Any body with half a brain should have known this would cause problems.
More of the same , is going to produce the same results.
We have been landlords for over 30 years. We have always been good landlords. Hardly ever put up the rent if they were good tenants. £5000 taken by agent (police not interested). Had to pay a "bribe" to get a tenant out who trashed a brand new house. Still owed £5000 by a tenant who we took pity on and allowed to stay on longer when we decided to quit the market (a section 21 was refused by the court). This and too many more problems to mention, as well as legislation, tax etc etc means we have now sold up and only have 1 rental left. How does this help the rental market for renters?
Those pushing this agenda are like Hogs 🐽 looking for Truffles 🍄 ( yes it’s a Mushroom). They don’t care what damage is caused.
I believe that a section 21 notice must give possession back to the landlord, unless invalid. If invalid then perhaps you may have had a defective agent!
I only have one property currently let. I bought it as an investment in 1983 and kept it empty until section 21 was introduced in the late 80s. Incidentally I have never used section 21 or section 8 but if section 21 goes, then my property will become empty once my current tenants leave next year. I can find personal uses for it. A sad situation but no decent government any more.
i have a policy now, no guarantor no tenancy, if i am to be banned from having a guarantor then simply no tenancies
I just can't believe all this bull from NRLA (Not Reading Landlords Aspirations) and Generation Rant. Ben Looney and his mate Ben Feeble two of the four horsemen of the landlord apocalypse. Along with Polly Seeth and George "Section 24" Osbourne the PRS is doomed to extinction.
I think you got that quite wrong about the NRLA, - Not REALLY a Landlord Association !
The RRB proposal is the Ll cannot give notice to tenants until they have been there for a minimum of 2 years. The reason needs to be that Ll is selling or wishing to stay or have a relative stay there. Within 2 years notice yo tenants will mean the Ll needs to pay one or 2 months rent to the tenants.
Why is this article always stating responsible landlords but not saying responsible tenants. There are more responsible landlords than responsible tenants. This is all very one-sided. Within the next 3 years, I wish to sell at least 5 of our properties and find alternative investments or keep the cash in bank accounts. Interest received better than all the head ache associated with owning btl, mainly getting away from stupid Ben Toostupid, polly bleat, Ben Beadle and the government who do not understand simple Economics but are there for personal gain and power. Not interested in helping or supporting tenants.
I agree I have very good tenants A young couple who now have two children When they leave I will be selling So another property gone for tenants And this will be as a result of the assault on landlords of the Reform Bill
I am assuming the Corporates will be exempt?!
Section 21 is there for a reason and that reason HAS NOT CHANGED!
What we actually need is a Register for every Tenant in the land.
Have you ever wondered where all the bad Tenants or Tenants from hell go? Most likely to some other poor unsuspecting Landlord!!
Totally agree with you Having been a landlord for over 20 years I have only evicted one tenant who stopped paying rent and didn't communicate The agents I used were useless I used a section 21 to evict them and lost 2 months rent Could have been a lot worse if Section 21 wasn't available Landlords don't evict good tenants
One day, these renters groups will realise that landlords and renters are on the same side. There needs to be a harmonious relationship between the two for the relationship to work productively. They will eventually realise that other 3rd parties (governments, councils, corporates) are the enemy that have disrupted the previous harmony......but it will be a very long road back to any semblance of normality for them.
Most renters already realise that & are not represented by these tenant groups! I think the penny has finally dropped with the tenant groups that Councils are not going to step in to replace private rentals & things are getting worse all the time as LLs leave!
"landlords selling properties is ‘a leading cause of homelessness". No s!&t Sherlock and the cause of landlords leaving is the ever increasing hostility, burden of regulation, burden of taxation that you and your friends have brought to LL's.
Is it me or do they not understand basic Maths? " Generation Rent, has rightly warned that landlords selling properties is ‘a leading cause of homelessness.’" Now if I have a family living in my house paying rent and for whatever reason I sell the property, a different family now live in the house. Net homelessness= zero. I agree that landlords selling up is a leading cause of reducing the number of properties available to rent but that is not the same thing as homelessness.
Alan, Don't get me wrong, I am a ladlord so understand the issues. But, If you sell the house it maybe taken out of the rental sector. People in the rental sector by definition probably could not afford to buy it. Your maths are correct as far as total homes is concerned but not when looking at the rental market alone.
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