Labour calls for a ‘Renters’ Charter’

Labour calls for a ‘Renters’ Charter’

10:47 AM, 3rd April 2023, About 2 years ago 103

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Labour MP Diane Abbott appeared on ITV’s ‘Good Morning Britain’ today (Monday) to push for a renters’ charter that will help protect tenants.

The segment highlighted that the number of available homes for renting in the UK has dropped by a third in the last 18 months – but rent prices have seen a 20% increase in the last three years.

Now, Ms Abbott is calling on the government to encourage more responsible private landlords.

‘One of the problems of stratospheric rents’

She said: “Rents are stratospheric and one of the problems of stratospheric rents is that a lot of younger people are not going to be able to buy because every penny is going on rent.

“With landlords, we want to encourage good landlords, but we want to bear down on bad landlords.”

When asked what a bad landlord is by the presenter Kate Garraway, Ms Abbott replied: “A bad landlord is somebody that first of all uses the no-fault eviction to get you out, and a bad landlord is someone who puts up the rent every six months, every three months and that is what is causing renters so many problems.

“There’s no certainty because bad landlords just want to exploit the market.”

Government is set to end Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions

Ms Garraway highlighted that the government is set to end Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, but Ms Abbott said there was no sign of the legislation.

She added: “It’s not down for debate in Parliament and a Labour government would put an end to no-fault evictions.”

Co-presenter Richard Madeley then asked Ms Abbott about the anecdotal stories of landlords charging potential tenants just to view a property.

Ms Abbott said: “They are now charging just to look at a property, some of them are charging a relatively small amount, £30, but some of them are charging hundreds of pounds.”

Ms Garraway said that a programme journalist had investigated and could find no evidence that landlords are charging potential tenants to view a property, other than in one or two anecdotal cases.

She added that the law, since 2020, has made the paying of these fees illegal and asked Ms Abbott where she was getting her evidence.

Accepted that hers was anecdotal evidence

Ms Abbott accepted that hers was anecdotal evidence and there was no survey evidence but ‘a lot of estate agents’ are saying that tenants are being charged and ‘this is something that needs to be cracked down on’.

Ms Abbott continued: “One of the things a Labour government would do is to bring in a renters’ charter and one of the things that would say is in no circumstances can landlords charge just to view a property.”

The presenter highlighted that there is already a law to prevent this from happening, so there would be no reason to bring in a law to deal with the issue but Ms Abbott replied: “But it doesn’t seem to be biting, does it? Because you hear too much anecdotal evidence, certainly in London, of people charging to view.”

This is the interview on Twitter from Good Morning Britain with Ms Abbott.


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Dylan Morris

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18:28 PM, 3rd April 2023, About 2 years ago

Incredibly at the last General Election she was Shadow Home Secretary 🙄

G Master

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18:45 PM, 3rd April 2023, About 2 years ago

Oh bless her. She only wanted to let us know she is still clueless in 'home issues', be it a Home Minister or Housing Minister

Crouchender

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18:56 PM, 3rd April 2023, About 2 years ago

This renter charter will grow arm and legs with leftie in charge. Mind you Nandy is leaning towards that side with the PRS review she has asked for

JamesB

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19:55 PM, 3rd April 2023, About 2 years ago

Why is she given air time? Is it ok just to make factually incorrect rubbish up? Is her party scared of getting rid of her or something?

She's still having an affair with Jeremy Corbyn I heard, anecdotally.

Paul Graville

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20:43 PM, 3rd April 2023, About 2 years ago

How many landlords do no-fault evictions? Why on earth would I want to get rid of a good tenant? It doesn't make any sense that this is a systemic problem.

Seething Landlord

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22:40 PM, 3rd April 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 03/04/2023 - 15:08
Thanks Luke, but S13 does not impose a blanket ban on rent increases more frequently than annually.

It does not apply to a tenancy "in relation to which there is a provision, for the time being binding on the tenant, under which the rent for a particular period of the tenancy will or may be greater than the rent for an earlier period." {S13 (1)(b)} i.e. it can be overridden by a provision in the AST.

See also S13 (5) "Nothing in this section (or in section 14 below) affects the right of the landlord and the tenant under an assured tenancy to vary by agreement any term of the tenancy (including a term relating to rent)."

From the comments stating categorically that rents could only be increased annually and criticising Diane Abbott for not being aware of this, I had wondered if there was some other legislation that I was not aware of.

Steve Penn

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22:49 PM, 3rd April 2023, About 2 years ago

Oh my god and this is exactly the reason why we have idiots in government not understanding the real issue.
Diane Abbott really needs to go through an education course in renting. Currently rents can only be increased once in every 12 months and not during the first 12 months of an AST. Should any tenant be subjected to an increase there is a tribunal service which can resolve.
As mentioned the government are not addressing the issue of non paying tenants. If there are issues with a property that you rent there are clear routes that take to resolve and I agree that a landlord that does not address genuine housing issues should be penalised but please don't tar us all with the same brush.
A tenant who withholds rent should be listed on a central register which can be officially accessed for references and should not be offered council rent just because they want to be evicted.
I'm seriously not understanding the brain power of this government!

PH

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23:00 PM, 3rd April 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Steve Penn at 03/04/2023 - 22:49
You're not on your own !

Michael Barnes

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0:42 AM, 4th April 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Steve Penn at 03/04/2023 - 22:49
"Currently rents can only be increased once in every 12 months"

What is your evidence for this?
Have you read the comment above yours?

afaik, rents can be increased every six months by "agreeing" a new tenancy (or S21 if tenant does not "agree"

Seething Landlord

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7:19 AM, 4th April 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Barnes at 04/04/2023 - 00:42You don't even need to have a new tenancy agreement, the rent under the existing one can be varied by agreement between landlord and tenant.

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