Propertymark calls for a balanced Renters’ Rights Bill

Propertymark says the Renters’ Rights Bill must provide a greater degree of balance between tenants, landlords and agents to ensure a healthy private rented sector (PRS).

While the organisation welcomes the government’s commitment to avoid rent controls, it emphasises the need for clarity on how the legislation will address the significant demand for rental properties and boost supply.

The bill – which has its first Committee stage today (Tuesday 22 October) – must also outline how local councils will be adequately resourced to enforce both existing and new regulations effectively.

Also, Propertymark wants the bill to consider the specific needs of student landlords and extend the student ground to more sharers.

There also needs to be measures to register all short-term lets.

How this legislation will support landlords

Timothy Douglas, the head of policy and campaigns, said: “Key concerns remain about how this legislation will support landlords and agents to meet the huge demand for rented property.

“To give more confidence to landlords, the UK government must outline in detail how they intend to adequately reform the court system and resource local authorities to deal with the changes.

“Rules to regulate short term lets, a review of taxes and costs impacting private landlords and maintaining Local Housing Allowance rates can also support both landlords and tenants and ensure there is enough property for people to rent.”

He added: “The introduction of a Private Rented Sector Database provides the opportunity to reduce duplication and support local authorities but only if there is a commitment to phase out licensing schemes and to give more choice to renters fixed term tenancies must be retained as an option and the student ground must be extended to one or more sharers.”

Impact assessment for many of the proposed changes

During the Second Reading debate, many MPs echoed Propertymark’s concerns about the lack of an impact assessment for many of the proposed changes in the Bill.

The removal of fixed-term tenancies, for example, could lead to complications and additional costs for both tenants and landlords.

In that debate, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner expressed her intention to create ‘decent, safe and affordable homes’ through the legislation.

But Shadow Housing Secretary Kemi Badenoch warned that the bill could pit landlords and tenants against each other.

The Renters’ Rights Bill includes provisions to stop Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, end ‘bidding wars’ between landlords and agents, allow tenants to keep pets and introduce a Decent Homes Standard.

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