NRLA slams Prime Minister for criticising landlords amid housing crisis

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has hit back at the Prime Minister for blaming landlords for rising rents.

The NRLA says Keir Starmer needs to recognise the important role landlords play in the housing sector, rather than focusing on rent levels, which are dictated by the market.

Labour has pledged to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions in the Renters’ Rights Bill and build 1.5 million homes to tackle supply and demand.

Landlords are put in a prime position

The Prime Minister told the Commons Liaison Committee that the lack of supply is causing landlords to charge higher rents.

He said: “Rents have gone through the roof, because the competition for rented accommodation is through the roof.

“It is through the roof because we have not been building enough houses, and therefore too many people want the same accommodation, which means landlords are put in a prime position.”

Why are we seeing landlords leaving in droves?

Chris Norris, policy director for the NRLA, slammed the Prime Minister for criticising landlords without addressing the real issues that are forcing many to sell up.

He said: “The argument is as depressing as it is familiar. It’s also something of a paradox – if the PRS is the proverbial land of milk and honey, then why are we seeing landlords leaving the sector in droves?

“It’s not just us saying this, the government’s own figures back up our argument.

“As Zoopla reports, tenant enquires per property are now 31% higher than pre-pandemic levels, the most recent government data shows that a third of landlords (31%) are planning to sell properties they rent out in the next two years, up from 22% in 2021.

“In contrast, just 7% say they are planning to provide new homes to rent in the next two years, compared with 11%  four years ago. Hardly the feeding frenzy the Prime Minister is suggesting.”

Encourage investment in the private rented sector

Mr Norris adds the Labour government needs to focus on investment in the private rented sector to combat the housing crisis.

He said: “The Labour government’s answer to the housing crisis is to build more homes – and while, long term, of course this makes sense, it can’t happen overnight – and the Prime Minister knows this.

“We have been lobbying this (and the previous) government for some time, arguing that only by encouraging investment in the private rented sector can we ensure that tenants will be able to find an affordable home in a place where they want to live.

“We will also continue to campaign for the lifting of the freeze on Local Housing Rates, which is leaving so many households unable to afford even the very lowest rents in their area.

“A robust private rented sector is vital for the social and economic wellbeing of this country. We need pro-growth measures that will encourage landlords to continue to invest in the sector to provide the rental homes that this country so desperately needs.”

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