8:01 AM, 28th October 2022, About 2 years ago 13
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A senior minister has confirmed the Government’s intention to introduce a Renters’ Reform Bill in this Parliament – and it could be law by the time this Parliament ends.
Andrew Stephenson, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, was responding to a question from Labour MP, Matthew Pennycook, the Shadow Minister for the department.
They were appearing at Westminster Hall to debate the ‘Potential merits of ending Section 21 evictions’.
Mr Stephenson said: “It is very much the priority of the Government to introduce the Bill and provide parliamentary time for it to proceed.
“Obviously, the Government’s policies can change, but the new Prime Minister underlined his commitment and the new Government’s commitment to the Conservative party’s 2019 manifesto, which included commitments in this area.
“I am sure that, whether it is myself or another Minister in post, this will remain a priority for the Government, and we will want to bring forward the legislation in good time so that it can go through all the stages before the next general election.”
Mr Stephenson continued: “We know that landlords need certainty, too. If a tenant needs to leave a tenancy, we will increase the amount of notice they must give.
“This will ensure that landlords recoup the costs of finding a new tenant and avoid lengthy void periods.
“The new system will be simpler for tenants and landlords to understand, enabling them to exercise their rights and fulfil their obligations.
“We are striking the right balance between improving security for tenants and ensuring that landlords continue to feel confident to invest in the market.”
He added: “Good landlords play a vital role in providing homes for millions of people across the country, and we want to reassure them that the new system will continue to be a stable market for landlords to invest and remain in.
“No one will win if our reforms do not support landlords as well as tenants.”
He told MPs that it is right for landlords to get their properties back when their circumstances change, or tenants break the rules.
He said that the grounds of possession will be reformed so they are ‘comprehensive, fair and efficient’.
Mr Stephenson said: “We will streamline the possession process, removing unnecessary restrictions on landlords seeking to recover their properties, introduce a new ground for landlords wishing to sell their property and allow landlords and their close family members to move into a rental property.
“This, alongside the existing grounds for moving in, will give landlords confidence that they can get their property back if their circumstances change.”
He said that going to court should be the last resort for possession when all other avenues have been exhausted, but ‘it is unavoidable’.
Mr Stephenson said that the Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service will streamline the process and ensure that the most serious cases are prioritised.
There is also a review of the bailiff process under way – and this is ‘currently the biggest source of frustration and delays for landlords’.
He added: “I hope that all Members recognise that the Government are committed to reforming the private rented sector in a fair and balanced way, abolishing no-fault section 21 evictions and providing more clarity for landlords when seeking repossession.
“We are committed to giving tenants more security, meaning that they can stay in their communities and put down roots.
“Delivering a fair deal for renters through these reforms remains a priority for this Government, and I look forward to working with hon. Members to deliver on that agenda.”
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David Judd
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Sign Up11:55 AM, 28th October 2022, About 2 years ago
This will be something to watch. Here are the headlines from the papers:
Labour Party MP John McDonnell has launched a scathing attack on landlords that use a limited company structure, labelling it a “tax avoidance scheme”.
If this gets included in the white paper it will be a massive blow to private landlords.
He goes on to say: McDonnell also spoke out against the quality of private rented stock, saying: “We are seeing a boom in private landlordism in my constituency, where the buy-to-let property experience is one of high rents, poor maintenance and harassment by landlords, who are often completely unregulated.” Where, what landlords - politicians continue to bash good landlords. Where are his statistics? If you want to regulate anyone regulate Estate Agents that rip landlords off - also rouge tenants that cause £,000s damage
Judith Wordsworth
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Sign Up12:12 PM, 28th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Tax avoidance is allowable but tax evasion is not.
Just hope someone with some common sense, so highly unlikely lol, to amend the crass stupid drafting and some of the clauses that will impact on student tenants in HMO's when the landlord or letting agent out a professional in the property ie ALL tenants will be liable for Council Tax. My MP didn't even know this!
Monty Bodkin
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Sign Up12:17 PM, 28th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Cause and effect;
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-63391102
Durham University students have queued on the street overnight to secure a home for next year, amid claims of a lack of accommodation and rising rents.
Luke P
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Sign Up12:40 PM, 28th October 2022, About 2 years ago
The fact that he calls them 'no fault' evictions tells me all I need to know about his politics.
Rod
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Sign Up17:20 PM, 28th October 2022, About 2 years ago
iHowz will be meeting DLUHC next week and will continue to make our case for retaining S21 for landlords, while meeting the demands of tenant groups by strengthening protections for good long term tenants with financial recompense and extended periods, based on the length of their tenancy.
https://ihowz.uk/the-unintended-consequences-of-losing-the-section-21-notice/
We will also highlight the growing number of landlords selling their properties, resulting in reduced supply and rising rents (it's basic economics, not Trussanomics).
The need for the government to publish their long overdue new MEES/EPC requirements, together with increasing costs, will only see this trend continue unless the Government take action to support landlords as well as tenants.
Should our representations not have the desired impact, we may have to resort to a refrain of
"Red wall, blue wall, retrofit them all.
with a green homes grant here, and new MEES standard there, we can build back better
Insulation, double glazing, solar pv - it's cozy in the hall
Levellin' up, levellin' up . . .
I want a Section 21
'Cos my tenant's antisocial
Gen Rent and Shelter say we just issue them for fun
Levellin' up, levellin' up . . .
Mortgage up, bills up, profits all gone
Tenants want to stay rent free
Government, Shelter and Gen Rent ask, what's wrong?
Levellin' up, levellin' up . . ."
Come and see us on the iHowz stand at the London National Landlord Show this Wednesday, 2 November
https://ihowz.uk/meetings/
Monty Bodkin
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Sign Up22:03 PM, 28th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Rod at 28/10/2022 - 17:20
IHowz?
FFS.
It sounds like a 90's boy band.
We have no landlord organisation representing the interests of landlords.
Mr Wallace
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Sign Up9:32 AM, 29th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 28/10/2022 - 12:12Hi Judith, can you send a link to help me understand new obligations being proposed ? I wasn’t aware that all occupiers will have to pay council tax either in the proposed changes and I should be across this!
Martin Thomas
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Sign Up10:34 AM, 29th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 28/10/2022 - 12:12
Hello Judith. I don't you are quite correct in this. If you had a student HMO with 4 occupants and one left to be replaced by a young professional, 75% of the Council Tax is payable. The Council Tax regime treats the situation as though a single person was living in the property alone, so they get the discount.
Martin Thomas
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Sign Up10:52 AM, 29th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Hello Judith. I don't you are quite correct in this. If you had a student HMO with 4 occupants and one left to be replaced by a young professional, 75% of the Council Tax is payable. The Council Tax regime treats the situation as though a single person was living in the property alone, so they get the discount.
Rod
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Sign Up13:05 PM, 29th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Martin Thomas at 29/10/2022 - 10:52
None of you will be correct on council tax if all tenancies become 2 month periodic, which is what the removal of S21 will trigger.
Currently, tenants on a joint contract are liable for council tax but if property is rented by the room, then the landlord will be liable, as tenants do not have sole use of communal spaces.
The proposals set out in the White Paper would have a dramatic effect on Landlords' liability to pay to the Local Authority the Council Tax because the tenant would no longer have a Leasehold interest of 6 months or more and thus the landlord would become responsible if the tenant did a runner or was not resident.
Monty, iHowz is a not for profit landlord association, supporting English landlords. It was originally established in 1974 to represent landlords on the south coast. Had you clicked the links to our website, you would have found a wealth of landlord information.