Landlords' group responds to reports on government’s rental reform plans
Following reports that the government is potentially planning to shelve long-awaited regulations to protect private renters from so-called no-fault evictions, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) stressed that the rental sector is in dire need of reforms.
“Whatever the government’s plans, a wide range of reforms are desperately needed to support the sector,” Ben Beadle, chief executive at the National Residential Landlords Association, said.
He emphasised that the supply crisis in the sector must be addressed urgently, and that much more needs to be done to root out criminal and rogue landlords. The NRLA chief added that vulnerable tenants could and should be better supported by unfreezing housing benefit rates.
“The NRLA will continue to work with all parties to ensure that reforms are fair and workable and command the support of tenants and responsible landlords,” Beadle said.
Read more: Landlords want existing rental laws simplified.
Meanwhile, Rachael Sinclair, director of mortgages and financial wellbeing at Nationwide Building Society, remarked that if the government fails to push ahead with the proposals outlined in the Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper, it will “miss a vital opportunity.”
“Rental regulations are crying out for an overhaul, and now is the time to act as the cost-of-living crisis further exacerbates the challenges facing the sector, primarily poor conditions.” Sinclair stated. “Dropping the proposals at this point is short-sighted, and will only add to people’s concerns during what remains a worrying time for many.”
Steven Swinford, political editor at The Times, tweeted on Tuesday that Prime Minister Liz Truss is shelving plans to end no-fault evictions. He claimed to have been told that the rental reform plans “are not considered a priority and could be killed off entirely, despite being a manifesto commitment.”
The prime minister’s spokesman said: “no decisions have been taken on any further policies” but added that “ensuring a fair deal for renters will always remain a priority for the government.”
