NRLA chief meets minister to discuss Renters (Reform) Bill

Ben Beadle, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), has met with the minister for the private rented sector (PRS), Jacob Young, to discuss the Renters (Reform) Bill.

The bill aims to end no-fault evictions, improve security of tenure and strengthen the rights of tenants.

Mr Beadle told the minister about the worries of NRLA members, as well as suggesting possible solutions that would balance the interests of both landlords and tenants.

He asked Mr Young for more clarity on how the government would improve the court system before abolishing Section 21 – so-called ‘no-fault’ evictions.

The minister confirmed that Section 21 would not be scrapped until the courts were reformed.

‘Unintended consequences of some aspects of the Bill’

Mr Beadle said: “It was a really constructive meeting and a great opportunity to share with the minister the concerns our members have and the unintended consequences of some aspects of the Bill.

“We know change will happen, but this was a great opportunity to not only raise our concerns, but propose sensible and workable solutions that will benefit both landlords and tenants.”

He and the minister also discussed the NRLA proposal to extend the government’s amendment that would allow landlords to evict student tenants who live in houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) if they breach their tenancy agreements.

Mr Beadle asked Mr Young to apply this amendment to all student lets, not just HMOs.

Prevent tenants from serving notice to quit a property

Mr Beadle also repeated the NRLA’s request for an amendment to the Bill that would prevent tenants from serving notice to quit a property until they had lived there for at least six months.

He said this would stop tenants from leaving after only two months, as the Bill currently allows.

Mr Beadle warned the minister that this could create an ‘Airbnb lite’ situation, where tenants could move in and out of properties at short notice, leaving landlords with uncertainty and financial risk.

He said that this amendment was essential for landlords, especially those with mortgages, to have the confidence to stay and invest in the sector.

Mr Beadle pointed out this concern was shared by other groups, such as UK Finance, Grainger and the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee.

The Bill would change the way tenancies work

The duo also discussed how the Bill would change the way tenancies work, from fixed term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) to open-ended periodic tenancies.

Mr Beadle urged Mr Young to phase in this change over three years, to reduce the impact on the availability of rental homes.

He said that allowing existing ASTs to expire naturally would avoid the problems seen in Scotland and Wales, where similar changes led to a 6% reduction in the Scottish PRS and a nearly 300% increase in Welsh eviction cases.

Share This Article