Plans to reform the PRS will be unworkable unless the government provides clear answers, warn organisations representing individual landlords, BTR providers, and letting agents.
As the House of Lords prepares to consider the Renters’ Rights Bill again from 1st July, The British Property Federation, the National Residential Landlords Association, and The Lettings Industry Council warn that a lack of clear answers to basic questions was causing concern among “good landlords” who ministers say should be unafraid of the Bill.
In a letter to the Minister in the Lords, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, these organisations claim that the government has not explained how the courts will be “ready” for the impact of the reforms in practice, as well as failing to set out how long they will take to consider and process legitimate possession claims.
According to these groups, plans which will make it easier for tenants to challenge above-market rent increases at a tribunal are not viable, as there is currently no reliable single source of data to determine what market rents are in any given area.
In addition, they allege the government has not explained how proposals to make it more difficult for landlords to repossess a property where rent arears are due to delayed benefit payments will work.
The letter raises further concerns that the government has failed to provide the sector with clarity about when it expects changes to rental tenancies to take effect once the bill receives Royal Assent.
Ben Beadle, chief executive at the National Residential Landlords Association; Melanie Leech, chief executive at the British Property Federation; and Theresa Wallace, chair at The Lettings Industry Council, jointly commented: “We remain extremely disappointed by the lack of substantive responses to the concerns we have consistently raised with ministers.
“We want the Bill to work in practice and enjoy the confidence of good landlords.
“However, unless clear answers to the issues we have raised are forthcoming from the government, those very landlords have every reason to be concerned.”
