Industry news
News relating to the private rented sector from both England and Wales, affecting landlords.
Rent Controls would be a disaster for London renters
Proposals by the Mayor of London for rent controls in the capital would be a disaster for tenants. As Sadiq Khan once again seeks the powers to introduce them, the National Residential Landlords Association is pointing to a report published by The Treasury in 2010 under the last Labour Government, of which the Mayor was a member.
Evictions banned over Christmas, but courts will re-open as planned
Courts will reopen on September 21, although a further eviction ban will be put in place over Christmas, the government has confirmed. In a statement it said that - except in cases of anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse - there will be a pause on evictions over the festive period. It also confirmed that if an area is in a local lockdown including a restriction on gathering in homes, bailiffs will be unable to carry out evictions.
Almost a quarter of landlords surveyed lose rent due to Covid-19
ALMOST a quarter (22 per cent) of private landlords with properties in England surveyed have lost rental income as a result of COVID-19 according to new polling.The research, conducted online by YouGov for the NRLA, found that whilst 19 per cent of those questioned had lost up to half of their usual rental income as a result of COVID-19, three per cent had lost more than half.
NRLA launches new licensing toolkit
A new licensing toolkit, to help landlords understand and challenge local licensing proposals has been launched exclusively for NRLA members. The toolkit not only supports landlords through the - sometimes confusing - licensing process, it also lays out helpful guidance as to how landlords can respond to consultations and the legal requirements councils themselves must meet.
Members rallied to Write to MP about eviction ban extension
The NRLA is urging landlords to write to their MP and make their voice heard following the news that the evictions ban has been extended for a second time, and the extension of the notice period to six months until the Spring.
England trailing rest of UK in support for renters and landlords
The Scottish Government has today announced it has developed an interest free, hardship loan scheme to support renters to pay-off COVID-related rent arrears. It comes weeks after a similar scheme was announced in Wales.
NRLA Wales supports advice line for landlords and tenants
From today, landlords and letting agents in Wales will be able to point tenants struggling with rent, income, or housing benefits in the direction of a new independent advice service.
BREAKING: Landlords welcome clarity on possession cases- but the courts must open
Ministers have today made important concessions about how repossession cases in the rental market will be handled from 20th September. It follows extensive lobbying by the National Residential Landlords Association after the Government U-turned on its plan for such cases to be heard again from 23rd August.
Landlords face two years without rent
The Governments plans to extend the evictions ban could leave private landlords without any rent for up to two years. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the NRLA has said that the Government is asking landlords to subsidise struggling renters and rewarding those who are wilfully refusing to pay their rent.
Wales: Shadow Housing Minister calls for more support for private landlords
The Shadow Welsh Housing Minister Mark Isherwood MS has called on the Welsh Government to introduce more support for private landlords in the country. Mr Isherwood called for a greater understanding of the need to protect both tenants and landlords.
