Housing ministers contradict themselves over Renters Reform Act plans

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The timing of the long-anticipated Renters Reform Bill is still in doubt after housing ministers appeared to contradict each other.

In the Commons yesterday, the minister in charge, Rachel Maclean, confirmed comments she made at a recent renters’ reform rally that it would be introduced by the autumn.

She also confirmed, “the Government’s commitment to abolish section 21 evictions as soon as parliamentary time allows”.

This could mean the Bill would be introduced to the Commons sometime before 23^rd September – the official start of autumn according to the Met Office – despite Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s pledge at the weekend that it would be introduced in two months’ time.

Reforms

He told the Sunday with Laura Keunnsberg programme: “We’re bringing forward reforms a little later this year – in a couple of months’ time actually – to see how the private rental sector can be better regulated.”

The reforms were originally expected within a year of the A Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper, in June or July 2023.

According to Robert Bolwell (pictured), senior partner at Dutton Gregory solicitors, a Bill would normally take a year to go back and forth between parliament and the Houses of Commons and Lords, meaning that if it was put forward by September, we could see legislation in September 2024.

However, speaking in a Goodlord webinar, Bolwell, explained that legislation normally takes effect on either 1st October or 1st April.

If the bill became a parliamentary Act in September 2024, it was unlikely to become law in October 2024, and would be more likely to happen in April 2025 – although a general election would cause disruption and a new Labour government could completely derail it.

View Full Article: Housing ministers contradict themselves over Renters Reform Act plans

Big council sets housing policy based on ‘shrinking landlord numbers’

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Barnet Council has announced new housing strategies based partly on its experience of a shrinking private rented sector.

The London borough’s new Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy proposes increasing the supply of affordable housing for rent and home ownership with the aim of delivering 1,000 new council homes at 50% of market rental rates and improving the council’s housing stock so it reaches Net Zero by 2030.

It also wants to improve the quality of private sector rental properties and promote private tenants’ rights.

In its strategy report, the council cites ongoing contraction of the private rented sector due to challenges of affordability as well as increasing demands on private landlords impacting viability.

Contracting

It says: “Barnet has historically had strong access to the private rented sector, which has helped to lower the numbers in temporary accommodation. The private rented sector is contracting, and fewer private rented sector lettings are now being made.”

When considering how to prevent homelessness it says that in the past, many people have been supported to stay in their households as part of Barnet Homes’ homelessness prevention work, including through use of financial interventions such as Discretionary Housing Payments.

Challenging

The report adds: “It is becoming increasingly challenging to sustain people in their existing tenancies due to affordability constraints, and an increase in private sector landlords exiting the market.”

Housing and growth committee chair, Labour councillor Ross Houston (pictured), says: “We will be consulting on the four new proposed housing-related strategies and policies, and I encourage all residents to get involved in building the future of the borough.”

Read more about landlords leaving the sector.

View Full Article: Big council sets housing policy based on ‘shrinking landlord numbers’

Right of Cancellation for a property management service?

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Hello, I invoked a Right of Cancellation for a property management service within the 14 day period, using the method defined in their terms of business and based on the The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 recommendation.

View Full Article: Right of Cancellation for a property management service?

Southern Landlord Show to offer advice on tax, law, EPCs and mortgages

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Landlords in the South of England are being invited to attend a landlord show being held by one of the region’s larger letting agencies.

Charters, which is holding even at its large HQ in Southampton tomorrow, says the show will offer buy-to-let landlords advice on how to manage their portfolios more efficiently, along with an exhibition of specialist firms.

This will include a leading legal firm, EPC advisor, accountancy and tax specialist, mortgage broker and a rent guarantee service supplier.

Free advice

Visitors will also be able to attend free seminars including a session on recent and looming regulation changes faced by the private rental sector.

The exhibitors are from some of the leading names associated with the rental market in the south.

In its second year, the show is being attended by Dutton Gregory Solicitors, Menzies LLP, and Goodlord.

Landlords interested in attending should can visit the firm’s website or come along to the venue at 73 The Avenue, Southampton SO17 1XS, UK.

View Full Article: Southern Landlord Show to offer advice on tax, law, EPCs and mortgages

‘Difficult times’ predicted for Scotland’s tenants with new First Minister

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Tenants in Scotland could face ‘difficult times’ with the announcement that Humza Yousaf has won the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the SNP and First Minister.

One critic says that Mr Yousaf’s ‘negative attitude’ to the private rented sector (PRS) will see higher rents

View Full Article: ‘Difficult times’ predicted for Scotland’s tenants with new First Minister

TV star agrees higher landlord taxes are shrinking supply within rental market

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Property expert and TV presenter Phil Spencer believes landlords are being disadvantaged by tax rules that have made the profession less attractive to investors.

He says landlords are being forced out of the sector, leaving both them and renters in a vicious circle. Speaking at the Ideal Home Show, Spencer said that while there isn’t much compassion for landlords, he believes the issue of buy-to-let mortgages is more worrying than the cost-of-living crisis.

“I’m particularly worried about the rental market at the moment because tenants are having it really hard because of a lack of choice, which produces inflated rents,” he tells Metro.

“It’s good for landlords and it’s bad for tenants, but that’s actually come about as a result of what is bad for landlords.”

Fewer landlords

Spencer explains that he wants people to appreciate that what is bad for landlords – changing tax rules and the fact buy-to-let is not generally seen as an attractive investment –makes it hard to make money, which means there are fewer landlords.

“Existing landlords are selling up, and new landlords aren’t coming into the market,” he adds. “Nobody has sympathy for landlords, and I completely get that, but the result of that is that there are less places to rent for tenants and rents are rising hugely. It’s a vicious circle and I see that as a real worry for society.”

Read more about landlord tax.

View Full Article: TV star agrees higher landlord taxes are shrinking supply within rental market