Landlords have nothing to fear from the Renters’ Rights Bill – Pennycook

Pennycook’s assurance that landlords have "nothing to fear" is pure comedy gold. Let’s start with the repeal of Section 21. Apparently, landlords are just itching to evict tenants without reason, because that’s how we get our kicks! Now, instead of dealing with troublesome tenants swiftly and reasonably (relative in comparison to his solution), we get to look forward to even more lengthy, expensive legal battles where we’ll have to justify why we might want our own property back. Who doesn’t love the idea of spending months, maybe even years, wrangling with a system that assumes landlords are the villains of the piece?

And let’s talk about these rent disputes and tribunals. Just what every landlord dreams of—a court appearance to justify raising the rent to cover the rising costs of, you know, actually maintaining the property. I can already see myself explaining to a tribunal that boilers don’t fix themselves, while they nod sympathetically before siding with the tenant. Clearly, landlords are sitting on piles of cash and have endless free time to attend these rent-review tribunals. It’s practically a hobby!

Then there’s the "reassuring" news that we can still repossess our own properties for personal reasons. Brilliant. Except for the fact that Pennycook forgot to mention the mountains of red tape waiting to make this process as painful as possible. You want your property back to sell it, or maybe to move a family member in? No problem—just fill out these 15 forms, wait for 12 months, and hope the tenant doesn’t contest it and drag you through another round of legal chaos. Simple, right?

And the pièce de résistance: improving landlords' reputations. I nearly fell off my chair at that one. Nothing screams "trustworthy and respectable" like being portrayed as the ultimate bad guy while drowning in regulations that make running a property more complex than navigating a tax return blindfolded. How, exactly, does demonising landlords improve our reputation? I suppose in Pennycook’s world, we should be grateful for the "opportunity" to prove we’re not all scheming villains, even though we’re now stuck with more regulations, more costs, and more headaches than ever before.

In short, landlords have plenty to fear from this bill. More legal battles, more red tape, more costs, and the looming possibility that being a landlord will no longer be worth the hassle. But at least Pennycook will have his "balanced" system—just don’t ask any actual landlords what they think!

The Bill hasn’t passed through Parliament yet. Plenty of time for the Loony Left to add their anti-landlord clauses.

Unfair taxation should be repealed. No other business is taxed on turnover rather than profit.

Regulations such as minimum EPC Ratings, EICR (and more) don’t apply to Social Housing or to owner-occupied homes.

Why would my EPC improve if I add Chinese panels to my roof but not if I get my electricity from a field of panels in Kent?

The result will be fewer private rental properties.

Sometimes, I don’t increase rent for years (11 years in one case). I will increase rents every year by the maximum allowed from today. When tenants leave, I’ll sell up. My children do not want to be landlords because government action has made the business unattractive.

I feel bullied but that’s ok, I’m a landlord. I don’t matter.

If landlords cannot legally gain possession, some will find another way. Labour may need to release the protestors to make space in our prisons for disgruntled landlords that have been pushed into criminality.

I hope Labour are enjoying their honeymoon period. They won’t be able to blame then Tories forever.

Yet another lie from this government nothing to fear ?
What about the proposed right to appeal rent increases the bill proposes that the tribunal can not raise rents to above the rate proposed by the landlord and that the new rate will only take effect following the decision of the tribunal
This surely means that every tenant will appeal simply in order to delay the implementation of a rent increase the tribunal becomes swamped and decision take months and months to be made leaving the landlord receiving a rent below market rate and having to swallow the increase in costs
Ridiculous!!

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118 at 11/09/2024 - 10:54
Well said!
You could not make it up, just like it was pre1988 housing act but with even more compliance, more tax and more regulation.
Who needs the hassle!

How long does it take then for eviction of a tenant now then with out section 21 ?

Matthew Pennycook does nothing for his current constituency regarding affordable housing .Where it is over £2500+ for a 2 bedroom. Whilst his borough is being Manhattan-ized. In order to raise revenues. As, the normal working person cannot afford those rents.
He is now preaching about landlords with market rents ??? Most people wont even be able to challenge there landlords anyway.There is no way a landlord charging big money wont have a good solicitor. Matthew Pennycook is doing what he does best. Pitying people against each other and big business and government win. Its the small portfolio landlords they want to drive out and the working class who use to actually be called the middle class.

The removal of fixed terms of any kind also seems very problematic. How can I stop Airbnb applicants just taking a cheap long let and leaving in 1or 2 months.

In the student HMO market removing AST and S21 will have a great impact - as was realised in all the wrangling over the Tory Renters Reform Bill.

If Labour’s equivalent goes ahead with the ability of students to leave on a whim after an initial 2 months or decide to stay on after the end of the academic year without any prior indication it will cause severe disruption to the normal yearly cycle of student tenancies - and will mean students have no certainty in securing accommodation in advance of their studies.

It’s just as stupid to treat every tenant as seeking a forever home as it is to leave those who have been in rented accommodation for many years exposed to just 2 months notice to find a new home if served a S21.

"Landlords have nothing to fear from the Renters’ Rights Bill – Pennycook"

...and pensioners have nothing to fear from this Labour Government.
Oops, mind that flying pig!

If he wants to create a sense of balance, then perhaps he should consider revoking Section 24.