Jul

Landlords oppose evictions, pet rights and benefits tenant reforms in White Paper

admin

Landlords have revealed that they oppose three of the key reforms proposed by the government in its Fairer Renting White Paper.

The research by Total Landlord Insurance among nearly 1,100 landlords shows that 60% don’t support the abolition of Section 21 evictions, 57% are against the right to allow tenants to rent with a pet unless they can reasonably refuse and 58% are also against plans to make a blanket ban on tenants renting with children or with the support of benefits illegal.

But some elements of the White Paper are supported by landlords.

Nearly two thirds of landlords are in favour of giving tenants stronger powers to cease arbitrary rent review clauses such as unjustified rent increases, while a similar proportion of landlords were in favour of doubling notice periods when rent increases are justifiably implemented.

Most surprisingly, 89% are behind the creation of a new ombudsman to deal with rental market disputes.
The proposals may also deliver the Conservative’s stated aim of chasing more landlords out of the PRS with 17% of those canvassed by the survey saying they’d reduce their portfolios if the proposals become law.

“We’ve waited with bated breath for three years to hear the detail of the Government’s proposed rental market reforms and while it’s fair to say that their latest plans are rather tenant focussed, any attempts to improve the sector are extremely welcome and should improve standards for all stakeholders regardless of what side of the tenancy agreement they stand on,” says Eddie Hooker (pictured), CEO of the Hamilton Fraser Group, which operates Total Landlord Insurance.

“Despite this, our latest gauge on landlord sentiment shows that the vast majority are in favour of greater tenant protection and a fairer, more level playing field across the rental sector.

“This has always been the case and while there are bad apples in every batch, the view that all landlords are money hungry tyrants who forsake tenant welfare to increase their rental yield simply isn’t the case.”

Read the White Paper in full.

View Full Article: Landlords oppose evictions, pet rights and benefits tenant reforms in White Paper