0:03 AM, 25th October 2024, About 3 days ago 9
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A new report says renters in Wales should receive the last two months rent free as compensation if they face a no-fault eviction.
A Senedd local government and housing committee inquiry report lists a number of recommendations for the Welsh private rented sector including a property MOT to check the property is suitable and more pet-friendly homes.
The NRLA welcomes the report but wants the Welsh government to prioritise resolving the housing supply.
The Committee told the Welsh Government that by April 2025 they should publish their reasoning on whether two-month rent compensation for those facing eviction is feasible.
The report claims compensation for tenants could help prevent homelessness.
The report said: “We also see merit in the approach suggested by Generation Rent for financial compensation for tenants who have to move through no fault of their own by allowing them to retain the last two months’ rent as compensation for the financial and wellbeing impacts of a forced move.
“Such a step could help to prevent homelessness and reduce local authority spending on deposits and rent in advance.”
Other recommendations include that the Welsh Government should team up with Rent Smart Wales to create a property MOT to check if homes are fit for people to live in as part of the licensing system.
The cabinet secretary Jayne Bryant told the report she was “happy to explore” a property MOT.
She said: “Rent Smart Wales training for landlords and self-certifying fitness for human habitation requirements already ‘sort of’ fulfilled this function.”
She acknowledged that there weren’t enough resources for all homes to be checked independently but added that, in addition to spot-checks, issues may also be highlighted through tenant complaints.
The NRLA criticises other measures, such as rent regulation to stop driving rent increases, claiming it would cause landlords to leave the market.
The NRLA told the report: “Any form of rent regulation would have unintended consequences”.
According to an NRLA survey, between 22% and 38% of landlords in England and Wales would reduce their portfolio or leave the market if rent controls were introduced.
The NRLA supports the critical need for a long-term strategy for the private rented sector in Wales.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “The Committee highlights the critical need for a long-term strategy for the private rented sector in Wales, and this can go a long way towards the development of a Welsh rental market that works in the interests of good landlords and tenants.
“However, although we welcome a number of the report’s findings, we would like to see the Committee and Welsh Government make resolving the sector’s supply crisis a top priority.”
The report also says more needs to be done to increase the number of ‘pet-friendly’ homes in the Welsh private rented sector.
According to Dogs Trust, there was a 31% increase in the number of people in Wales citing accommodation as a reason for needing to hand over their dog in March.
Claire Calder, head of public affairs at Dogs Trust, said: “We welcome this report by the Local Government and Housing Committee which concluded that more needs to be done to tackle the issue of pet-friendly housing.
“The shortage of pet-friendly housing is having a major impact on charities across the pet welfare sector. We receive hundreds of calls each week from desperate owners forced to rehome their dogs due to a lack of pet-friendly accommodation, and meanwhile, potential owners are unable to adopt from us as many landlords do not allow pets in their properties.
“We look forward to working closely with the Welsh Government to implement the Committee’s recommendations and ensure that pets and owners have a place to call home.”
The full report and recommendations can be read here.
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Osprey
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Sign Up11:00 AM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
This a complete joke!
The Renting Homes Wales act was brought in with a 6 month notice period for no reason possession.
The 6 months period was so that Tenants had ample time to find suitable alternative accommodation and therefore no undue financial stress.
As long as tenant has found a property within the 6 months and their current house is as per move in condition then why would it put financial stress on a tenant. They would start their new tenancy immediately after their current one ends and they would get their deposit back. Where is the financial burden?
The only problem might be that the new rent is considerably higher but who fault is that hey???
TMM
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Sign Up11:02 AM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
I really am tired of people telling me what I can and cannot do with my property, especially when they don’t pay for the consequences. It’s human nature that people treat other people’s property with less respect which is why rules have to be in place to protect that property.
If you want to keep dogs then buy your own place rather than totally wreck mine. When I get two months off on the mortgage then the tenant can get a break moving out. When the public sector give subsidies then they can expect payback for those subsidies. When the local govt stop raising their taxes and other costs then they can expect me to reduce rent rises too
Until then they can all jog on. I would rather knock down my houses and just keep the land than pay the parasites more. Infect with the way inheritance tax is going it may be the smart move
Jill Church
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Sign Up17:13 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
How would this 2 month rent free work? Would the contract holder (tenant) still pay the rent, then as they leave the landlord refund them ? Or do they just not pay last 2 months?
If so, what happens if they don't leave at end of notice when they have been told to stay put until baliff arrives?
Paul Essex
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Sign Up17:58 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
Here we go again the NRLA welcoming yet more anti landlord legislation.
Elizabeth Hill
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Sign Up20:07 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 25/10/2024 - 17:58
Thank goodness I haven't joined the NRTA (clearly they are no longer a LANDLORDS association!) - would hate to think of my membership money funding a group that welcomes with open arms the very legislation designed to hurt it's members....
David Dean
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Sign Up20:41 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
I'm glad I decided not to rent out my property in Wales.
So much for Welsh government policies preventing homelessness.
Noggin The nog
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Sign Up13:13 PM, 26th October 2024, About A day ago
Selling one property, another one next year .
Then I am out and will never rent again.
There are hardly any rentals left in my area simply because of increasing law and legislation.
I have compiled with everything but now due to ever increasing taxation and continuous bad press .
I will shift my resources to a place where Harmer and thieves cannot get their greedy jealous hands on it .
So long investment UK.
Richard
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Sign Up18:36 PM, 26th October 2024, About A day ago
Well, I sold my properties in Wales and do not regret it! Rents in my area are flying higher and it is a good return on capital, but who wants to invest in a market where the government constantly change the goal posts. 50 page tenancy agreements, retrofit of smoke alarms and sprinkler systems, rules on pets, pointless mandatory training etc. These all sap the life out of what should be a low input business. As a result there is a massive shortage of rental properties, rents are through the roof and local authorities have nowhere to house people.
Jack Jennings
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Sign Up10:33 AM, 27th October 2024, About 12 hours ago
Perhaps tenants should give landlords an extra two months rent when executing a no fault rejection of a property correctly and legally as outlined in their contract...