Labour’s plan to curb bidding wars under fire for loophole

Labour’s plan to curb bidding wars under fire for loophole

9:35 AM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago 13

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Labour’s plan to make bidding wars illegal contains a loophole, warns critics.

The Labour party has clarified it will stop letting agents and landlords from pushing bidding wars, but tenants can still make ‘voluntary’ higher offers above the asking price.

Tenant union group Acorn warns the loophole will make the policy “useless” and hurt tenants.

Rent prices have increased

According to the Financial Times, a senior Labour Party official says renters can choose to bid above the advertised rental price voluntarily to secure a property.

The Labour party official added: “The idea is that the agency can’t facilitate the bidding war to drive up the price on behalf of the landlord.”

Labour’s plans are inspired by policies implemented in New Zealand in 2021.

These policies prohibit landlords from prompting tenants to bid above the asking price but permit renters to offer higher prices as long as they aren’t pressured.

However, critics have pointed out that since the policy was introduced in New Zealand, average rent prices have increased.

Gigantic loophole will make policy useless

Tenant action group Acorn has criticised the loophole labelling Labour’s bidding war policy “useless”.

Acorn, said on X, formerly Twitter: “Labour’s proposed ban on rental bidding wars will contain a gigantic loophole to allow “voluntary” higher bids from tenants.

“A loophole of this size would render this otherwise sensible policy effectively useless. Expect pushback from the renters’ movement.”

Competitive bidding environment

Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, told the Financial Times that the supply and demand imbalance is to blame for bidding wars.

He said: “Such is the shortfall of stock in the [UK] private sector, you’re always going to have a competitive bidding environment.

“Whether or not it is encouraged or invited strikes me as being sort of not the point.”


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Comments

Reluctant Landlord

8:08 AM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

as ever a completely pointless idea coming from Labour....

Cider Drinker

9:11 AM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

I wouldn’t entertain a bidding war however, I don’t see why it should bother the government. Higher rents mean they make more in tax.

Maybe we should argue that banning bidding wars takes funds away the NHS.

TheBiggerPicture

10:51 AM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

There is more than one type of auction. You can start low and move higher, or start high and move lower. (A Dutch auction) The Dutch auction may require a slightly higher void period though.

Peter Merrick

11:06 AM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

If bidding is disallowed, then most landlords will simply advertise for the maximum price they think they can get and be open to offers. If the demand is there, then they will get what they ask for if someone is willing to pay it.
Price caps usually have this perverse kind of effect. I remember a long time ago reading something about how In America at some point they temporarily placed a ceiling on the price of wheat or something similar. The author had bet on prices going up when the cap was lifted and contracted for supplies at the going rate, but the price actually came crashing down instead because of course everybody had been selling at the ceiling rather than the supply/demand equilibrium price. The person in question then had to sell off his business as it was hemorrhaging money.

NewYorkie

12:02 PM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 26/06/2024 - 08:08Implemented in New Zealand where rents went up!
If a tenant wants to offer more to secure the property, that's their choice. Same as buying a property. You cannot legislate against it.
Of course, a landlord doesn't have to accept a higher offer! 🤣

Dennis Leverett

12:04 PM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

Just unbelievable that once again a totally not thought through idea. These people are gonna be running our country soon. Very scary thought.

Reluctant Landlord

12:38 PM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 26/06/2024 - 12:02
agree. Nothing to stop a LL making it clear to any person applying that they are one of many so it is going to take them time to pick the best candidate.

IF THE TENANT then offers more rent as a way of securing a tenancy and you accept so be it. You can't legislate against offers being made as it has not been forced in any way.

Miserable Old Git

14:42 PM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

Another unworkable idea from the prospective government of a woke nanny state, soon you will not be able to refuse to let to applicants in case you hurt their feelings.

If we sell we may subject to whatever rate of CGT will be imposed, we may also probably have to offer the property to existing tenants at a 50% discount based on value regardless if we have an existing mortgage, if we commit suicide or die of natural causes labour are talking about imposing CGT on our heirs followed by inheritance tax at 40% after allowances have been removed.
If property is registered to a close company they are talking about removing the IHT exemption.

I can envisage never seeing another government except Labour in my Life time which basically means all I have worked for to provide for my family will be taken from us to pay for those who did not and wasted on wokery and the like.

What is the solution, join a Landlord Terrorist organisation if there is one, as Landlords associations seem to have forgotten who they represent?

havens havens

15:17 PM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

I see Labour's plan to ban rental bidding wars has a major flaw. Allowing "voluntary" higher bids means tenants will still feel pressured to outbid each other, much like what we've seen in New Zealand where rents have continued to rise despite similar policies. The real issue is the supply and demand imbalance. As long as there are more renters than available properties, prices will keep going up, regardless of these measures. Critics like Acorn are spot on without tackling the root causes, this policy won't offer real protection for tenants.

robert fisher

17:01 PM, 26th June 2024, About A week ago

doesn't this bidding only happen in London?? Never had it happen to me in 23 years of being a landlord. I advertise at the highest market rate i think is achievable and negotiate down for the right tenant.

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