Goodbye Renters (Reform) Bill: Unloved and unwanted but the fight goes on

Other than Ben Beadle, are there any landlords who will be mourning the demise of the Renters (Reform) Bill?

It was unwanted by landlords and agents; it would have brought destruction and the big issue I warned about when the final version began its rocky route through Parliament didn’t come to pass.

That’s the effective handing of control from the property owner to the tenant. Absolutely outrageous, and from a Conservative government too.

But wait! We still have to endure what the political parties have planned for the private rented sector when they unveil their manifestos.

I’m sure none of it will be pretty – especially the offering from Labour.

What they would do if elected

None of them have even hinted as to what they would do if elected – and I’m guessing there’s a good reason for that.

On the horizon, we have the ‘delight’ of Labour’s intentions which might include the long-held promise to abolish section 21 ‘on day 1’.

But will they put this into a campaign promise?

Here we are looking at a General Election when Labour must make itself look electable.

That means no more sixth-form politics and no spouting off when there’s no comeback – one of the joys of having ‘luxury’ opinions when they don’t affect you.

However, Labour now faces a real test after years of slagging landlords off.

And it’s the prospect of landlords selling up once we see what they might have in store for us, so they might think twice.

Landlords haven’t had a voice

Until Rishi fired the starter gun, landlords haven’t had a voice, but we’ve been handed a great hand of cards and we can be influential over the coming weeks.

But it means that we must tell tenants that a proposal to prevent landlords from gaining possession will have consequences.

And the notion that tenants might have should Labour get in that they can’t be evicted needs nipping in the bud. Just like in lockdown when a rent cap/holiday was mooted, and some tenants thought they could live rent free.

However, it’s one thing for Labour to criticise a sitting government – it’s something else to explain how you would do things differently.

The end of the RRB means Labour can’t now blame the Tories for what happens next and there’s an opportunity to make clear what they will do.

A promise to end the housing crisis? An eviction ban? A nationwide rent cap?

Soundbites for the sake of it

Angela Rayner’s nonsense about house building and getting rid of section 21 will be shown to be the idiocy it always was – soundbites for the sake of it.

Let’s be honest too, the Tories need to be careful with its manifesto after ignoring landlords in the RRB when announcing their housing plans.

And I still find it difficult to understand how the Conservatives had an 80-seat majority to deliver change and squandered it.

It doesn’t help that the NRLA says it was ‘hugely disappointed’ that the RRB bit the dust.

I’m disappointed in the NRLA, but not surprised.

In the election countdown, we’ll need a strong body representing landlords to spell out clearly what the problems in the PRS are – and why Labour will make them (much) worse.

That’s because I fear that Labour has spoken to Shelter, Acorn and Generation Rent and is taking their ideas on board.

Capture the tenants’ vote

Can you imagine the wish list those organisations have, and Labour might be sweet-talked into believing this is a way to capture the tenants’ vote.

The term ‘housing emergency’ will be bandied about without any explanation of what it is – or why it has come about.

So, we should expect an evictions ban, the end of section 21 and a rent cap.

If that does happen, landlords can’t rely on the likes of the NRLA to speak out.

What Labour’s plans mean

We all need to write to our tenants and explain – in detail – what Labour’s plans mean.

And why it’s likely we will have to sell, and the tenant will have to find somewhere else to live. In a market where lots of landlords are getting out early in a bid to beat the crusher.

Labour will talk about tenants’ rights but not the 160+ laws landlords have to follow.

Labour will talk about the cost-of-living crisis and controlling rents, not about the rising costs facing landlords.

Labour will talk about empowering tenants and making their tenancy secure because it is ‘their home’, ignoring property owner’s rights.

But they – and the Conservatives – won’t talk about landlord rights or levelling the playing field so we end up being treated with respect in the provision of homes.

A Landbay survey this week says 12% of landlords are voting Labour. Really? Who are you? Why?

Strength of private landlords in the UK

But, I believe, we are about to see the strength of private landlords in the UK.

We hold a whip hand and the sanction of selling up should be recognised for the potential housing chaos it will create.

Landlords everywhere will find out exactly where they stand – and politicians and tenant advocacy groups will see how strong we really are.

Politicians also need to recognise that most landlords are older but still pay taxes and still work to deliver quality homes for tenants. They won’t want the hassle if landlording becomes too difficult or taxing.

We will learn why Labour and the Lib Dumbs have been so quiet about the PRS after years of wanting more tenant rights.

We will see in real-time politicians shooting themselves and their campaigns in the foot.

This is a conversation I doubt they want to have.

It’s going to be an interesting few weeks!

Until next time,

The Landlord Crusader

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