10:54 AM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago 61
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Ben Beadle claims that the NRLA does NOT oppose the abolition of Section 21, but the court system urgently needs reform to handle evictions.
During the committee stage hearing of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the chief executive of the NRLA, Ben Beadle said: “The court system is on its knees and landlords are having to wait months for a bailiff.”
Also in the committee hearing, chair of the Lettings Industry Council, Theresa Wallace warns the Bill will cause unintended consequences and increase homelessness.
The Bill will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and make it easier for tenants with children and pets to find homes.
Mr Beadle says the NRLA welcomes the Bill and recognises the government’s efforts to address housing issues.
He told the Committee hearing: “We are largely supportive of the Bill and the Minister should take credit for how quickly the government is bringing in these reforms.
“Our position has been very clear that we do not oppose the abolition of Section 21 providing the alternative is workable and fair.”
Mr Beadle says more balance is needed in the Bill when it comes to court reforms.
He said: “We need real confidence in court reform because, right now, it’s taking an average of seven months to get a property back. With the move to Section 8, this is going to become even more important.
“We also need investment in the court system as otherwise we will not be delivering what landlords or tenants need.”
Mr Beadle pointed to an NRLA survey revealing that 60% of landlords said they were less confident or not confident about remaining a landlord without proper court reforms in place.
Theresa Wallace warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill will cause homelessness.
She said: “The Bill has the best intentions but it has unintended consequences and one of these will be more homelessness.
“We know that Section 21 will be abolished but it will not solve the issues in the private rented sector.
“Figures from the English Housing Survey reveal more than one million tenants in the PRS are in receipt of benefit payments and the majority of those should be in social housing. If we had those social homes we wouldn’t have the supply and demand imbalance.
“We have figures which show a 12% increase of properties on the market now which is the highest since 2014 per agent.
“The private landlord is very scared about the Bill and is exiting the sector. We need these homes in the PRS, and we’ve got to keep these landlords because tenants rely on them.”
Mr Beadle says the Bill has missed the robust grounds needed for landlords to retake possession.
He said: “I don’t see a doubling of notice for serious rent arrears and an increase of the serious rent arrears threshold from two months to three months as either sending the right message or being fair and proportionate.
“Those tenancies will largely fail, whether it’s two months or six months. What we want to see is to avoid rent arrears from building up in the first place.
“We are supportive of a pre-action protocol where responsible landlords can signpost tenants to manage their arrears.”
Mr Beadle added: “There’s an average of 21 people chasing every property. Whatever a nip and a tuck we make, whether landlords are leaving or not, that’s only going to worsen as confidence in the PRS decreases.”
The committee hearing will also hear from tenant groups such as Shelter and Generation Rent.
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EL1111
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Sign Up14:27 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Godfrey Jones at 22/10/2024 - 12:47The landlord has become the whipping boy for all things the government can't get right. This government is terrifying me in more ways than one and as law abbiding citizens we are fretting about it. The PRS is so important to this country, we supply over 5 million homes, which, if the government were to provide at their current rate of development would take 18 years. What would they do with the homeless if we didn't exist. Problem is they want to treat the private sector like the state sector were it doesn't matter if tenants don't pay or reck the joint, the taxpayer picks up the tab. It's a total disgrace and those supposed to be representing us are too. No cojaunes when it comes to dealing with people. Godfrey, don't let the bugg**s get you down.
Ian Narbeth
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Sign Up14:28 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 22/10/2024 - 13:39No, Luke. the Tenant Fees Act 2019 tells you. In Schedule 1 paragraph 2(4) it says:
“one week's rent” means the amount of the annual rent payable in respect of the tenancy immediately after its grant, renewal or continuance divided by 52.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/4/schedule/1
Cider Drinker
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Sign Up15:04 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
Beadle might support the abolition of Section 21 but his members don’t.
How many properties does Beadle let to tenants?
Cider Drinker
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Sign Up15:08 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 22/10/2024 - 12:27
The Bill will have very little impact on homelessness. There’ll still be the same number of properties.
Homelessness will rise because Labour have no intention of even pretending to control migration and there house-building targets are not achievable.
What will see is fewer rental properties, more owner occupiers and the poorest people in Society scrapping for the few rentals that remain.
Chris @ Possession Friend
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Sign Up15:12 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
Reply to the comment left by EL1111 at 22/10/2024 - 14:10
Are you aware of the Housing Coalition, -
a collection of Regional landlord associations and online forums ( including P118 ) and letting Agents. Also some other Housing professionals.
Cider Drinker
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Sign Up15:27 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
Reply to the comment left by EL1111 at 22/10/2024 - 14:27
We don’t supply homes though, do we?
We supply tenancy agreements. The homes are (in most cases) there whether we are or not. Perhaps some properties wouldn’t be built if we didn’t exist but that’s not a given.
Sheila McAveety
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Sign Up15:58 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
Just received the Bailiff appointment for my property for March next year. The whole procedure will have given the tenant’s nearly 2 years extra in the property. Tenancy was due to end in July 2023.
Tenant not looking after property and now not paying rent.
If this is the backlog already I hate to see what it will be like after the RRB goes through
Cider Drinker
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Sign Up16:33 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Godfrey Jones at 22/10/2024 - 12:47
If you can afford to keep it empty, that’s a great choice. Adds more pressure to the government and local councils.
Another option would be to let it to a family member for pennies.
Lordship
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Sign Up16:37 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
Ben Beadle thinks by agreeing with the government on issues in the RRB like S21, he will be deemed credible and therefore be allowed to continue to "sit at the table". However, there's no point being "in" if you can't have influence.
The NRLA are really only interested in keeping their jobs. The whole board need to go and a new pro landlord board put in place. Remember, it's the NR(Landlords)A.
Beaver
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Sign Up16:38 PM, 22nd October 2024, About 6 days ago
If the quote is right Theresa Wallace warned that the bill will cause increased homelessness and said:
"The private landlord is very scared about the Bill and is exiting the sector. We need these homes in the PRS, and we’ve got to keep these landlords because tenants rely on them.”
If the bill goes through unamended then that is of course correct.