10:09 AM, 5th August 2024, About 2 days ago 39
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Labour is looking to prevent landlords from evicting tenants who have nowhere else to live, the Telegraph reports.
It says government ministers will propose imitating a French scheme which has ‘hardship tests’ that must be followed before an eviction is allowed.
The rule effectively bans evictions that would leave a tenant worse off.
Supported by housing minister Matthew Pennycook, the rule is aimed at reducing homelessness.
Labour is also, the newspaper highlights, in talks about the proposals to reintroduce a minimum energy performance certificate (EPC) of C for the private rented sector.
The Telegraph says the moves will raise fears of a new ‘war on landlords’ which includes losing tax breaks on mortgage interest, more red tape and stamp duty surcharges.
The newspaper says that the housing minister wants to amend the new Renters’ Rights Bill to include the hardship test.
When the Renters (Reform) Bill was making its way through Parliament, Mr Pennycook tried adding an amendment to make it harder for tenants to be evicted.
That would have seen a judge refuse a possession order if it would lead to ‘greater hardship’ to a tenant.
The amendment highlighted three issues when the hardship rule would be met: a tenant losing their job if evicted, a tenant who has terminal cancer and if the eviction leads to homelessness.
Mr Pennycook’s amendment failed to make it in the RRB, but Labour now has a 174-seat majority in Parliament.
The Telegraph also highlights that Labour will reintroduce EPC targets for landlords with a 2030 deadline.
Many landlords will be looking at expensive upgrades, but the government might have a £10,000 cap on costs.
However, those close to the discussions say that Labour might choose a higher cap – or none at all.
The EPC plans for landlords would, the Conservative MP for Harrow East, Bob Blackman, be ‘unfair’.
He also told the newspaper that the target for energy efficiency was ‘not practical’.
Mr Blackman also said that many PRS properties cannot be upgraded which would see landlords sell-up.
He also warns that the costs would be put onto tenants with higher rents.
The MP also says that the hardship test would be unfair for landlords who are providing a service.
A government spokesperson told the Telegraph: “The private rented sector is in desperate need of reform, and our Renters’ Rights Bill will make renting fairer for all.
“The energy shocks of recent years have also shown the urgent need to upgrade British homes so we can secure our energy independence and reduce fuel poverty.
“Responsible landlords who provide quality homes to their tenants have nothing to fear from the sensible overhaul of private rented sector regulation we intend to implement.”
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Freda Blogs
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Sign Up13:02 PM, 6th August 2024, About A day ago
Reply to the comment left by PH at 05/08/2024 - 15:12
I think I read somewhere recently that Labour wants to take the UK out of ECHR. If that happens, what then?
Stella
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Sign Up13:37 PM, 6th August 2024, About A day ago
Reply to the comment left by Freda Blogs at 06/08/2024 - 13:02Labour are selective with Human rights already, apparently landlords dont have any.
PH
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Sign Up13:59 PM, 6th August 2024, About A day ago
Reply to the comment left by Freda Blogs at 06/08/2024 - 13:02
So does Farage and I wish I knew the answer. If selling becomes discretionary and means tested you can kiss goodbye to your property as bent judges will just invent any old excuse. The UK judicial system will be overrun with eviction notices if these laws are implemented...they think it's bad now !
northern landlord
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Sign Up15:35 PM, 6th August 2024, About 24 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by PH at 06/08/2024 - 13:59
I agree the judges will have instructions about minimising homelessness just as they appear to have similar instructions when it comes to putting offenders in prison
Brian Hewett
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Sign Up20:30 PM, 6th August 2024, About 19 hours ago
What if you applied the same logic to renting or leasing a car? The dealership couldn't have the car back for non-payment if it left the individual carless.
It's insane
Mike Thomas
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Sign Up20:49 PM, 6th August 2024, About 19 hours ago
I try not to be rude, but sometimes, there's just no other way to approach a situation, so can someone tell me who is more stupid and useless, Pennycook, or the NRLA.
Once more they seem to be siding with the government rather than their members, but Pennycook is obviously more suited to ideology than trying to do his job competently. Yvette Copper has announced that they're giving 90k migrants the right to residency, so that will pile further pressure on the rental sector, and as there will no homes available then every tenant getting evicted will effectively be homeless and so can't be evicted.
But in the years to come, will any of them own up to being the authors of the destruction of the PRS, or will the just continue to blame landlords.
PH
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Sign Up0:43 AM, 7th August 2024, About 15 hours ago
Seems like they're all pi55ing in the same pot ! The party of total destruction in more ways than 1 !!
Frank Jennings
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Sign Up9:24 AM, 7th August 2024, About 6 hours ago
Like I predicted a few years ago, the Uniparty have their agenda, and whether you vote left or right, the same direction will be taken. End of the PRS. Make all rental properties owned by companies and housing associations, and then nationalise the lot of them so the govenment can take full control of the housing sector.
It's a return to the 1970's where tennants have overall rights of occupation, and the LL can't evict them. In the 70's the LL had to offer an substantial amount of money to tempt the tennant to leave the property. Yes £1000's even £10,000's sometimes.
Then in the late 70's I heard of a couple who were so happy. They were only paying £6 per month for a very large flat, and were being offered £1000's to leave. They didnt leave. In the end, Thacher put an end to this in the 1980's. Suddenly you could actually rent a flat or house. It was fantastic. Up until then there was nowhere to live. I spent 6 months in York city in a tent working for the council. There was nothing to rent at all.
It was hell!
Stella
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Sign Up10:29 AM, 7th August 2024, About 5 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Frank Jennings at 07/08/2024 - 09:24
Spot on this is what they are trying to do now!
We had a couple in a 2 bed ground floor garden flat in Fulham in the seventies who were paying if I remember correctly £4.50/wk.
Having already turned down our offer to modernise the property ( which would be heavily subsidised by us with hardly any change to the rent) they then went to the council and the council had the cheek to draw up plans for them which would have reduced the property size to one bedroom.
Eventually we had that idea squashed and the council then offered them alternative accommodation which they of course refused.
I dont blame the tenants, it was the system that allowed this to happen that was very wrong.