Nov

Leading landlords warn Government’s over periodic tenancy plans

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Landlords in Cornwall have warned that students will suffer a shrinking pool of accommodation unless the government allows them to have 10 or 12-month tenancy agreements.

In its response to the government’s White Paper on fairer renting, Cornwall Residential Landlords Association says a change to two-month periodic tenancies will leave them uncertain whether tenants will actually vacate.

Chairman Ruth Clarke (pictured) explains that the cost of halls of residence attached to colleges and universities are frequently more than equivalent properties in the private rented sector.

“Making tenancies more difficult may force landlords to leave this specialist market, discriminating against the vulnerable and those from ethnic minorities who may be less likely to be able to afford to continue with their education,” she says.

The group adds that tenants fear the proposed changes will leave them less secure, especially those who have transgressed in the past and have had to leave their home or face the costs of court fees when the landlord obtained a possession order.

Read more about the white paper.

Clarke tells the inquiry that when a landlord can’t obtain possession in time for new students to move into a property at the beginning of the academic year, they could switch to either letting to family groups or holiday lets.

“There is currently not an option for a landlord to revert back to the shared occupation without first obtaining fresh Article 4 planning permission,” she adds.

“We ask that conditions surrounding Article 4 be reviewed and flexibility be built into the planning system.”

Other landlord groups have previously warned that students will pay higher rents as landlords exit the sector if the proposal is introduced. This has already happened in Scotland where similar rules were brought in recently.

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