Campaigns Update- what we are doing for you

In what has been a particularly turbulent week in Westminster we have continued to ensure our voice is heard through engagement with parliamentarians in England and Wales.

We hosted a well-attended meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the private rented sector, chaired by Andrew Lewer MBE, MP for Northampton South.

NRLA CEO, Ben Beadle, addressed the group, highlighting the core challenge of boosting the supply of private rented housing at a time when landlords are facing the mounting pressure of rising interest rates and costs. He stressed the need for Local Housing Allowance rates to be unfrozen and the Universal Credit system to be reformed to reduce barriers for tenants and risks for landlords. He also called on the Government to develop a comprehensive strategy for the private rented sector to provide long-term certainty for landlords, which will be the focus of our upcoming roundtable events with both the Conservative and Labour parties.

Separately, Ben had a productive and wide-ranging discussion with Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, who agreed that the Government must work harder to secure the confidence of private landlords if homes are to be safeguarded.

Also this week, Policy Officer, Gavin Dick, gave evidence to the Senedd’s Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee on decarbonising the private housing sector. Gavin emphasised the need for a joined-up strategy to address national and devolved responsibilities for energy efficiency and housing, and called for flexibility in recognition that properties do not necessarily stay in a particular sector indefinitely.