NRLA meets with PMs housing team
Renters reform was top of the agenda at a meeting between NRLA bosses and the Prime Minister’s housing policy team this week.
NRLA Chief executive Ben Beadle and Policy Director Chris Norris were at Number 10 to discuss the vital issue of court reform to ensure possession cases are dealt with in a timely manner in the post-Section 21 era.
The Government has made a commitment to introducing end-to-end digitisation of the court process, and the association is calling for detailed proposals as to how this will work in practice.
Freedom of Information data obtained by the NRLA has found that in Scotland, between 2017 (when changes were made to private residential tenancies) and 2021, the number of Administrative Officer grade caseworkers in the Housing and Property Chamber increased by 72%.
One of the key questions posed at the meeting was whether there would be similar increases to staffing levels in England and Wales.
The association also asked that the Justice Impact Test, which will be carried out to measure the potential impact of the Renters (Reform) Bill on the justice system, be published in full.
Ben and Chris also took the opportunity to call for Selective Licensing to be scrapped when the new Property Portal in introduced, as the new system will render it redundant, and called for a timetable for the Bill’s progression through Parliament to tackle uncertainty within the sector.
Changing the narrative
In addition to practical issues regarding the mechanics of renters reform the issue of anti-landlord rhetoric within Government departments was also raised.
While the association has been working closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure unhelpful media stereotypes are avoided, it has been disappointed with the messaging coming from other Government departments.
These messages are in danger of undermining the association’s ongoing work to demonstrate that landlords are part of the solution to the housing crisis, not part of the problem.
NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle said: “Our work on renters reform has been greatly bolstered by the welcome tone adopted by ministers at DLUHC about landlords. Given this, we are seriously concerned at the failure by other departments to do likewise.
“Most notably we saw the recent announcements on right to rent fines give the impression landlords were to blame for those living in the country illegally, as well as statements on childminding in rental properties calling on landlords to ‘open-minded’ – completely ignoring the fact there are a number of major barriers, including non-negotiable mortgage and insurance conditions.
“We want to ensure that the Government’s reforms to the PRS secure the confidence of responsible landlords. However, nervousness in the sector will be compounded by the rhetoric coming out of other departments in Government, which could serve to crystalise a sense that the Government is using landlords as scapegoats for difficult policy challenges.
“We will continue to represent members at the very highest level to make sure changes brought in as part of renters reform are fair to both landlords and tenants.”
To find out more about the NRLA’s calls on renters reform click here
