Rents hit new record-breaking high

Another missed opportunity for the Renters (Reform) Bill.

The RRB proposes to abolish fixed term tenancies, making all tenancies periodic from the start.

How much better it would be to increase the minimum length of a fixed term. Why not make it ten years? Or more? This would have nearly the same effect as abolishing Section 21 and provides the tenant with better security of tenure. Also, make the notice period for Section 21 longer. Perhaps a year, maybe two years?

Reply to the comment left by Teessider at 18/09/2023 - 09:32
So a landlord couldn’t sell for ten years or more. Yep this is sure going to help the rental sector. Excellent idea got any more ?

Reply to the comment left by Teessider at 18/09/2023 - 09:32
I dont like the idea of 10 year tenancies.
You could have the tenant from hell for 10 years and I am not keen on 2 year notice periods either. Tenants could do a lot of damage in 2 years.
Not to mention the hard work and money invested in these rental properties, mortgages to be paid, maintenance etc.
To have a property tied up for 10 years would be a disaster .Why not be fair to everyone and keep section 21 and perhaps increase the fixed term to say one or two years but not to10 years!!

Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 18/09/2023 - 10:43
Selling could be a new ground for Section 8 but it should have a longer notice period than the current two months. A year or two would be more reasonable if tenants need to find new schools for their kids or new jobs for themselves.

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 18/09/2023 - 10:45
Tenants from hell could still be evicted via Section 8. They could cause as much damage in a day as they can in 2 years.

Tenants should know how long they have in a property before they sign the AST. The tax system could be used to encourage longer fixed terms.

Reply to the comment left by Teessider at 18/09/2023 - 10:58Evicting tenants from hell requires statements from neighbours (unlikely as fear of retaliation) and police reports, council reports etc. All sounds easy but in practice a complete nightmare. And then you get a lefty judge who feels sorry for them and doesn’t want to put them out on the street. The Government say they’re going to make it easier in these situations, but say absolutely nothing as to how.

Reply to the comment left by Teessider at 18/09/2023 - 10:49
Absolutely not! Especially not retro-active. You're thinking one-dimensionally as though every exiting LL just gently winds down. Some get terminal illnesses and wanna cash out in less time that two sodding years. Others move overseas and need to deal with their tax affairs efficiently, which they should be entitled to do so.

The PRS is, should be and always was an additional, optional service and isn't there to prop-up the Govt's lack of planning.

So "Rents on newly let properties rose by a record-breaking 13.4% in Scotland in August, the largest increase in more than a decade."

In the run up to the next election the labour party badly needs to learn from the failed SNP experiment in Scotland.

You say…

“The average rent in Great Britain has now passed £1,300 for the first time in a decade, according to new data.”

Does that mean rents were higher 11 years ago? I doubt it.

Rents are likely to always hit new highs. That’s how inflation works.

Reply to the comment left by Teessider at 18/09/2023 - 14:35
They will be higher in Scotland *because* the SNP has tried to limit rent increases. And all the other parties need to learn from that mistake.