Oct

BREAKING: Welsh parliament rejects Plaid Cymru’s rent freeze proposals

admin

Wales has walked away from its own version of the Scottish rent freeze after Labour members of the country’s parliament voted against Plaid Cymru’s plans to introduce one, calling for the Government to “protect people not assets” during the cost-of-living crisis.

But following the vote on Plaid Cymru’s proposals, thousands of landlords across Wales will now be spared the convulsions currently taking place in Scotland after its First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed emergency legislation to push through her rent and evictions freeze.

It is due to last until at least March, and potentially longer if the cost of living crisis persists.

But the Welsh Labour government, including several key ministers and Member of the Senedd, warned during yesterday’s debate that a rent freeze would have unintended consequences including further shrinking the PRS and leading to a spike in rent increases ahead of any legislation.

Carolyn Thomas, Labour north Wales MS, said: “The time for a private rent freeze isn’t now. The situation is too volatile, complex and risky under the UK government’s political, economic crisis.”

Conservative MS Janet Finch-Saunders said rent controls were a nightmare and that Plaid’s debate was trying to ‘do down’ the private rented sector.

While Plaid Cymru called on Labour Members of the Senedd to ‘be brave’ and push through the rent freeze, Housing Minister Julie James, speaking via Zoom, said her government wanted to “target the support at the people who are most vulnerable and make sure they stay in their homes”.

“We don’t want to drive landlords away from the sector,” she said.

She called on the UK government to unfreeze housing allowance, which has not kept up with rent rises.

But landlords in Wales are not out of the woods yet – as LandlordZONE has reported in the past, ministers are still considering rent controls following the publication of a White Paper earlier this year.

The NRLA says: “We share the same goal as the Welsh Government on private rented housing – we want a sector that
is affordable, accessible and that works for both tenants and the vast majority of landlords who are fair and responsible.

“Ultimately, however, the drawbacks that will come from rent controls will significantly outweigh any possible short term gains that might be delivered by such a policy, as evidence from both the UK and internationally shows clearly.”

Watch the Senedd debate – 03:32:00 onwards.

View Full Article: BREAKING: Welsh parliament rejects Plaid Cymru’s rent freeze proposals