15:22 PM, 8th June 2023, About 2 years ago 86
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The Renters Reform Coalition is encouraging tenants across England to contact their MPs to support the Renters’ Reform Bill.
The coalition, which includes housing sector organisations, charities, and partners like Big Issue, aims to bolster tenants’ rights and bring about ‘meaningful change’ in the rental market.
To garner support, tenants are encouraged to email their MPs, requesting their attendance at the Bill’s second reading.
According to Shelter’s Polly Neate, the coalition has recommended several amendments to the Bill to fortify tenants’ rights and ensure the legislation possesses the ‘teeth needed for real change’.
And part of the call includes having landlords pay the tenant TWO MONTHS rent to find somewhere new to live AND move home.
The coalition is also calling for the imposition of a one-year ban on re-letting a property after a landlord uses a no-fault eviction – rather than the planned three-month ban.
Introduced last month, the renter reforms seek to abolish section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions so landlords cannot possess a property without providing a reason.
The Bill also aims to grant tenants more power to own pets and enhance the quality of privately rented homes.
However, the coalition proposes that judges should have full discretion to determine whether an eviction is justified.
They also recommend instituting a cap on in-tenancy rent increases, tied to the lower of inflation or wage growth, to prevent rent increases being used as a covert eviction tactic.
Landlords and letting agents might also be surprised at the demand from Generation Rent that a landlord pays their tenant two months’ rent to help them find a new place to live and move home.
And the groups says that landlords who want to sell will have to list the property for sale with a sitting tenant for six months before seeking an eviction.
As part of the campaign to get support, Shelter has launched a campaign for 5,000 supporters to email their MP and urge them to turn up for the Bill’s second reading.
The charity’s campaign page states: ‘By contacting your MP, you’re showing them just how important this bill is to you.
‘As their constituent, you have their ear, so adding your own story about why renting must be fixed will make your email even more powerful.
‘We need as many MPs as possible to turn up to the debate and demand for it to be focused on renters’ rights and as strong as possible.’
On Twitter, Ms Neate said: “This is not the time to relax on reform of private renting.
“There’s real danger of loopholes in the Renters Reform Bill that could undermine benefits of ending no-fault evictions.”
Along with improved tenant protections, the coalition is also calling for an extended eviction notice period of four months instead of the current proposal of two months.
It also suggests shielding renters from section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions during the first two years of a tenancy, as opposed to the proposed six months.
According to the coalition, these changes would offer a significant improvement over the existing system.
Gromit
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Sign Up8:05 AM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 08/06/2023 - 11:12
You're presupposing that politicians actually care!!
Any consequential homelessness will be blamed on Landlords, and considered by politicians, Shelter, Generation aren't et al. as collateral damage.
Gromit
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Sign Up8:18 AM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Leslie Church at 09/06/2023 - 07:49
..that is precisely what the Government want to keep their big corporates, aka Tory donors/providers of lucrative exec Directorships, happy!
John Parkinson
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Sign Up8:35 AM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Tracy Fewtrell at 09/06/2023 - 13:33
You are spot-on. I’m more tenants need to wake up and realise that rents are going up because you’re stupid government legislation.
All tenants should write to their MP explaining that whenever legislation was introduced. Its ultimately, the end user that pays
And labour are gonna be much worse
Mick Roberts
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Sign Up10:48 AM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Peter Cox at 09/06/2023 - 19:05
I agree too Monty,
My Letting Agents are now going my way of ringing up, talking to tenants first about rent increase. It's much more amenable, friendly, discussing it & explaining the reasons why.
These forms are far too official & impersonal & give the tenant a shock.
My tenants are fine when discussed verbally.
And if we get one tick wrong on these forms, we hauled before a Judge for 40 lashes & a years free rent.
Monty Bodkin
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Sign Up11:13 AM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 10/06/2023 - 10:48
Anti-landlord groups have spewed out the lie about greedy landlords unfairly gouging rent increases and the government have bought it.
They are fixing a problem that doesn't exist.
northern landlord
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Sign Up11:16 AM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Leslie Church at 09/06/2023 - 07:49
Hi Leslie
It seems deliberate. According to the Rugg and Davies report ”The Evolving Private Rented Sector” (2018) “For well over a decade a stated goal for the PRS by successive English governments has been to encourage large scale institutional investment in new properties built specifically for the rental market" It it goes on to say ” BTR often aims to create a ‘new style’ of rental offer, focussing on longer tenancies with a defined process for rent review, transparent access fees, and a level of on-site amenity depending on the scale of the development. Utilities – including broadband – are often included in the rent. There is an intention for developments to look towards community creation, and there is generally an aspirational element to the market”
Doesn’t sound like it is for poorer and benefit tenants does it?
NewYorkie
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Sign Up12:45 PM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by northern landlord at 10/06/2023 - 11:16
The BTR institutions are no longer so enthusiastic about investing.
This is the problem politicians of all colours fail to grasp. The PRS depends on individuals and companies investing their own/borrowed money in property, to provide homes for those who can't or won't buy. But if the ROI doesn't stack up, and/or the regulatory environment is too onerous, those people and companies will put their money elsewhere. Governments don't decide where we invest, but they can and should make it attractive.
northern landlord
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Sign Up13:03 PM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 10/06/2023 - 12:45Yup, seems like" the beatings will continue until morale improves" is the Governments attitude to the PRS. All "stick and no carrots."and now "the straw is breaking the camels back"
Rod
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Sign Up13:39 PM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
A less than promising example of what happens when inexperienced institutional investors offer unrealistic solutions in the housing market.
https://www.investmentweek.co.uk/analysis/4117333/circle-collapsing-demolished-house-lancashire-uncovered-home-reits-broken-business-model
Crouchender
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Sign Up16:52 PM, 10th June 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Rod at 10/06/2023 - 13:39
BTR only caters for the premium clientele (tenants) who 'want' those on site gyms/ cafes/ cinema rooms. Plus they will be super selective about the tenants they pick.
Non-premium tenants will have to live with dwindling supply from LLs ie Gen Rent/ Shelter/politicians are supposed to make it these tenants lives easier not harder.
Labour is advocating 75% home ownership so when they claim one rented property is lost out of the market BUT goes to Owner occupier (who may have been living with parents to save up a deposit). What they fail to understand is a typical three bed property (housing 3 individuals/households could be sold to a couple (1 household) so really a renter/ household is displaced every time a 3 bed is sold!