PRS in England is not fit for purpose

PRS in England is not fit for purpose

9:20 AM, 15th July 2019, About 6 years ago 4

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The private rented sector in England is not fit for purpose, failing both landlords and tenants according to some left wing reports.

The general thrust appears to be that Private Sector Landlords should evict perfectly good tenants who have been in their house for years and re-let to tenants on benefits because they need a home. Well they may need a home, but so do the established tenants in situation.

It is said that 18% of tenants are on Housing Benefit so it follows 82% are not on Housing Benefit. It is said that four out five landlords do not take tenants on Benefits. Well look at the statistics. It may well be that the reason is related to the Delivery of Housing Benefit! The Councils up and down the Country and Central Government need to get their kit together.

A major factor is that Councils say we have a backlog of work. You will have to take your place in the queue! Along comes four other prospective tenants and the PRS takes one of those.

I have a message for the Secretary for State for Housing, James Brokenshire. Jimmy old chap sort out the Delivery of Housing Benefit such that it matches the non-HB tenant time scale.

Provide a Deposit Scheme that processes applications for tenants on HB within one hour. Then provide the Deposit by transferring to Agents within one hour.

If you cannot do that then Central Government will continue to fail people on Housing Benefit.

Be clear Jimmy. It is Central Government that must sort this out! The PRS does not have a “Duty of Care” towards people on Housing Benefit. It is the Local Council that has the Duty of Care. So how can the Private Sector be at fault?

It is very clear that the Councils in the South-East cannot process in due time as they lack manpower to deal with the back log. So Jimmy, I suggest you provide specific funding to overcome this.

Fergus Wilson


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Denise G

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10:33 AM, 15th July 2019, About 6 years ago

well said Fergus

Heather G.

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10:10 AM, 16th July 2019, About 6 years ago

We'll said. I hope you are actually sending that to Jimmy, and copying it to Shelter?

Old Mrs Landlord

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11:55 AM, 16th July 2019, About 6 years ago

This accusation by the Resolution Foundation was roundly refuted by the RLA in August 2016. Since then all the government's tinkering and tweaking have made the situation worse for tenants as landlords respond by being more selective in their choice of tenants, raising rents to cover the increased costs of compliance or simply voting with their feet and leaving the sector altogether. When long-time stalwarts of the sector such as Monty Bodkin and Jonathan Clarke are selling or considering selling as they have stated on the thread comparing LHA rates with market rents, then it shows the sector is approaching meltdown. I predict a situation in the not-too-distant future when the only landlords left will be the rogues, the corporate big boys and the BTR investors so favoured by government. Tenants will look back with nostalgia to the days of the individual private landlord.

John walker

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15:51 PM, 16th July 2019, About 6 years ago

I do like the idea of LAs having to meet short deadlines, but would appreciate more any info. on the success of recent legislation with prosecution of rogue LLs and elimination of same. Maybe LAs have been unable to do this due to pressure of work.

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