Apr

BREAKING: MPs slam DLUHC over ‘piecemeal’ regulation of the private rented sector

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A committee of MPs has criticised the Government’s ‘piecemeal’ approach to regulation of the private rented sector which, they say, has only made matters worse for tenants, landlords and local authorities in the sector.

Launching the report, the Public Accounts Committee’s chair Dame Meg Hillier (main picture) says “unsafe conditions, overcrowding, harassment, discrimination, and dodgy evictions are still a huge issue in the PRS”.

“Renters with a problem are faced with a complex and costly redress system which is not fit for purpose and many tenants give up at the first hurdle.

“We need to see a change in balance. We expect DLUHC to produce the promised White Paper in a timely and effective fashion and start to turn around its record on addressing the desperate housing crisis in this country.”

The report concludes that Ministers must commit to properly funding local authorities to police the sector; that tenants should be better informed of their rights; and that proper redress should be ushered in – one of the Government’s proposals within its looming White Paper.

Ministers are also urged in the report to make it easier for councils to bring in landlord licensing schemes, and get a grip on what’s happening on the ground with proper housing data to end the ‘postcode lottery’ of local enforcement.

Pitiful

“Tenants and responsible landlords are being let down by the pitiful lack of enforcement action by councils using the array of powers available to clamp down on bad practice in the sector,” says Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA.

Beadle (pictured) adds: “Too often reforms have been piecemeal, based on insufficient information to understand their true impact or how workable they are.

“Such a strategy needs to include assessing the impact of reforms on the supply of homes for rent at a time when demand for them is soaring.”

Seah Hooker (pictured), Head of Redress at the PRS says: “Whilst redress for letting agents has been effective in identifying the shortcoming and gaps in the standards of properties, an educated and accountable agent sector, that abides by a set of rules and regulations is needed.

“Landlords who experience the poor quality of some agents go it alone and this is often when mistakes and non-compliance with the law occurs.

“If property standards are to improve a professional agent sector will be an essential part of the equation.

“This with landlord redress and a register of rental properties, that have be inspected and are safe, fit for habitation and energy-efficient, would provide a robust regime for a first-class rental sector.”

Rotten deal

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says: “Private renters are getting a rotten deal from a broken system where the odds are stacked against them.

“The PAC report backs up what we see through our services all the time – that renters live in fear of being evicted for challenging poor conditions or bad landlord behaviour.”

Read the full report.

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