Propertymark urges Labour to clarify its plans for the PRS

Propertymark urges Labour to clarify its plans for the PRS

0:05 AM, 21st June 2024, About A week ago 1

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With the general election approaching, there needs to be more clarification from the Labour Party on its plans for improving the private rented sector, Propertymark says.

The move follows news of Labour adding more detail this week to its manifesto.

Now, the party says that it will crackdown on ‘unscrupulous landlords’

It will also abolish Section 21, stop tenants from paying ‘massive’ upfront rent payments, reduce energy bills and end fuel poverty.

Labour will also sort damp and mouldy homes and improve tenant living conditions.

Improve the PRS for landlords

Propertymark’s policy and campaigns officer, Tim Thomas, said: “Propertymark will work with the next government to improve the private rented sector for landlords, agents, and tenants, and we share any ambition to improve standards over the next parliamentary term.

“However, while on the one hand, the private rented sector should contribute towards decarbonisation, the sector needs clear clarity on what financial and practical support will be provided to landlords at the first opportunity.”

Propertymark is now asking Labour to clarify its position on some key policy points, including:

  • EPC deadline: A 2030 deadline for private landlords to ensure their properties are energy efficient – that means meeting a minimum EPC rating of ‘C’
  • Ending Section 21 evictions: The party aims to abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault evictions
  • Extending Awaab’s Law: Private renters would not have to live with damp, cold and mould
  • Ending tenant ‘bidding wars’: Introduce measures to prevent competition between tenants for new tenancies
  • Tenant rights: Allowing tenants to object to rent increases
  • Housing supply: Commitment to building 1.5 million more homes.

PRS has become a focal point

The private rented sector has become a focal point for political parties with the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats promising to end Section 21 evictions.

The Conservatives also say that the Renters (Reform) Bill will be resurrected.

In a report published last year – ‘Energy Efficiency in UK Property: Where to Go from Here?’ – Propertymark members called for financial assistance to cover retrofit costs.

This assistance would be loans and grants.

Regarding abolishing Section 21, Propertymark highlighted the importance of court improvements before implementing a ban.

Also, the House of Commons Justice Committee’s Inquiry into the work of the county courts, also agreed with Propertymark that additional mandatory grounds for possession via a Section 8 notice must be considered.


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Comments

Priten Patel

23:04 PM, 22nd June 2024, About A week ago

Posted something on another article but it might also be relevant here. Re Awaab’s law and the damp and mould approach.

This area needs way more work. What can a landlord physically do to ensure their property meets a sensible level of airflow or extraction? I’ve read the consultation papers and it’s generalised eg. LL should investigate within 7 days, and repair within reasonable time. My big question is: what is the repair?!

I could put the best fans in, and air bricks everywhere, to remedy an underlying lack of ventilation (to keep up with modern lifestyles) but then the complaint will be about being cold. Fan may be switched off, vents could be closed or blockef.

I’ve got a tenant who has lived with mould in my flat for several months apparently, and did not to tell me, until a month ago, after her furniture started getting damaged and the rest. I’m now having to pay to 1) treat the mould, 2) address underlying issues (replace some fans and clean dust out of trickle vents). But what if that’s not enough? What if mould grows back?

The tenant has also gone to the council and I’m trying to fire fight. She’s been telling them it’s been going on for months and I’ve done nothing! So the narrative portrayed is villain landlord and poor victim tenant.

I’ve put together a 6 page report with 10 or so accompanying documents. In there it includes things like tenant had advised she cooks food and sells it, her staff member (who comes to the flat to help) isn’t being paid etc. No wonder there’s mould! It’s not a commercial kitchen, it’s a 2 bed flat. Treat it like one.

There’s also some bodge wiring done by (assuming) an unqualified person. which led to exposed live wires immediately behind a wardrobe. God forbid a fire in the flat, but no let’s direct all the problems of mould to the landlord and ignore that bit.

Going back to the point, there needs to be clear guidance on what a landlord should do to ensure adequate ventilation (this will be subjective to the property, as well as what can be done within leaseholder terms for flats etc). If that’s met, and mould growth occurs, then the tenant needs to own that problem.

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