Industry body calls for investment over legislation to support PRS

Industry body calls for investment over legislation to support PRS

10:01 AM, 7th January 2025, About 19 hours ago 6

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More investment not legislation is needed for the private rented sector, says Propertymark.

The industry body says the private rented sector remains challenging and the Renters’ Rights Bill must strike “a workable and fair balance” for landlords and tenants.

The Bill will abolish Section 21 and introduce Awaab’s Law to the PRS, with the law set to come into effect this summer.

PRS should be encouraged, not stifled

One Propertymark member from the West Midlands said: “The private rented sector should be encouraged, not stifled, by legislation but by support and tax breaks. Perhaps the more serious portfolio landlords (with 10 or more) properties could be supported?”

Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, warns the entire housing sector is about to embark on some of the biggest changes seen in over thirty years.

He said: “New planning reform for England and Wales working its way through parliament, which will pave the way for the UK Government to start delivering their ambition of over 1.5m new homes before 2029.

“Similarly significant legislation that will impact the lettings market across England is also moving at pace through Westminster in the form of the Righters’ Rights Bill. This will fundamentally change key rights for both renters and landlords and it remains imperative that this new Bill strikes a workable and fair balance for all involved.”

Mr Emerson adds the government must do more to support the private rented sector.

He said: “The lettings market remains extremely challenging, with long-running issues regarding an intense lack of rental stock across the UK.

“Throughout the last twenty years, we have seen renting more than double in popularity and there needs sensible support that encourages long-term investment within the sector.”

Housing market will struggle

The industry body says without more support, the housing market will continue to struggle.

According to the Propertymark Housing Insight report, demand continues to outstrip supply, with the average number of applicants per member branch still hitting around seven people for each available property in November 2024.

The report also says 24% of letting agents have reported rising rents, with the average UK rent in November 2024 being 9.1% higher than in November 2023.


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Northernpleb

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12:24 PM, 7th January 2025, About 17 hours ago

I do not know where these guys are renting I am getting between 20 and 30 within 48 hours and the last two were 65 and 95 .

Arears that used to have lots of stock now have very few properties to to let . It is very difficult for Tenants now that landlords now have no choice but to take full references , Guarantors , and Rent Guarantee Insurance.

Freda Blogs

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12:37 PM, 7th January 2025, About 16 hours ago

Good to see a piece supporting LLs - or is it? It's only looking out for some of us: "Perhaps the more serious portfolio landlords (with 10 or more) properties could be supported?”

These guys they are not reading the room, the statistics or the taxation legislation:

Are they inferring that small LLs (the majority) are not serious? Why just the people with >10 properties, who most likely are incorporated and with that size of portfolio can likely better spread and weather the losses a rogue tenant can bring?

We can do without the likes of Propertymark if that's what they think of us.

Paul Essex

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12:51 PM, 7th January 2025, About 16 hours ago

Way too late, politicians of all parties are determined to inflict further damage not less.

northern landlord

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15:04 PM, 7th January 2025, About 14 hours ago

The central point to all this is “ Throughout the last twenty years, we have seen renting more than double in popularity “
Is this really a popular choice? I would say that the word “necessity” would be more appropriate than popularity. Most people who could actually afford to buy would surely do so. The trouble is that a great percentage of people just can’t afford to buy even at so called “affordable” prices. Landlords are often blamed for “snapping up properties” to the detriment of other potential buyers. However, the properties were all on the open market for anybody to “snap up” if they had the money.
At the risk of sounding like a Monty Python Yorkshireman contrast this to when I was young in the late fifties/early sixties. My parents had their own modest house and a car all bought on and just about managed on an average workers wage. My mother stayed at home with the children, as did the mothers of most of my school friends. The average family just can’t afforded to do this now. Even if the mythical 1.5M houses get built most people still won’t be able to afford them such is the poor state of the country. Landlords will be wary of taking the risk of buying them to rent, and if they did, rents would be unaffordable if the landlord wants to make a decent return. Take a look at the share prices of major house builders, they all dropping, when you would think things should be on the up. They can’t afford to build excess houses that nobody will buy so they won’t build them and just batten down the hatches. Perhaps Ange will sort them out by imposing fines on them like they doing with the manufacturers of electric cars that nobody wants.

Peter Merrick

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19:39 PM, 7th January 2025, About 9 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by Northernpleb at 07/01/2025 - 12:24
Absolutely right on the mark.

They can give renters as many rights as they want, but they can't force a private citizen to enter into a contract and take on a tenant against their will.

Nor can they stop a private citizen from selling property that they own if it doesn't suit them any longer.

And they can't stop a private citizen from occupying their own property if they want to.

It's all designed to drive out the private landlord, but it's not so easy to get rid of something you can't do without, unless you first provide a viable alternative.

Cause For Concern

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22:53 PM, 7th January 2025, About 6 hours ago

Renters Rights means that I have ceased to let my properties. I will sell them instead. 25 tenants are losing their homes and I am losing my business. Thanks Angela Rayner. I think that the growth you keep referring to is going to be in the length of homeless queue outside the Council housing office.

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