Peers reference NRLA call for financial support
The NRLA was referenced multiple times in the House of Lords this week in relation to our continued call for more financial support to help renters pay off rent arrears built due to the pandemic.
While debating the coronavirus eviction regulations, several peers thanked the NRLA for briefings they had received ahead of the debate, and backed calls that have been made by the NRLA and other tenant groups for a financial package to be introduced.
During the debate, Lord Bourne thanked the NRLA and Generation Rent for submitting briefings, and called for the Government to consider developing a hardship loans/funds scheme to help address the issue of rent arrears that have built as a result of the pandemic.
Baroness Altman also thanked the NRLA and Generation Rent for briefings, and the association’s “constructive work on these issues”. The baroness added that “the vast majority of tenants are responsible, but the vast majority of landlords are, too”, and went on to say: “Private landlords cannot be expected to continue to effectively pay to house people for free. That is a government role.”
Speaking during the debate, Baroness Grender called for a package of measures to help people to stay in their homes, which, she noted, had been “proposed by the National Residential Landlords Association, Generation Rent, Citizens Advice and others.” She continued: “It is really important to note that, when we are talking about this balance issue with landlords, the NRLA is very clear that the real need is to tackle the rent debt crisis.”
Lord Kennedy and Baroness McIntosh were also amongst the Peers to thank the NRLA for briefings.
In winding up, Lord Kennedy told the House: “it is striking how much agreement there is between landlord and tenant organisations as to the solution to these problems. I thank both the National Residential Landlords Association and Generation Rent for their very helpful briefings, and mention has been made of the similarity in the solutions that each has put forward to the Government.” He continued:
“I agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Altmann, that there are good landlords and good tenants, and both need our support. The tragedy is that much more could be done to help landlords and tenants, but the Government are just failing to get this right.”
Lord Kennedy and Baroness McIntosh were also amongst the Peers to thank the NRLA for briefings.
The debate that took place on Tuesday was on the Public Health (Coronavirus) (Protection from Eviction) (England) Regulations 2021. Whilst Peers approved by 270 votes to 267 the regret motion tabled by the Shadow HCLG Minister, Lord Kennedy, this has no practical impact and the regulations remain in force.
To watch the debate click here (at the 13:40 mark) and a transcript can be read here.
NRLA campaigning for financial support
Since the start of the pandemic, the NRLA has been campaigning extensively for financial support for the sector, with members coming forward to share their stories on the impact of Covid-19 on themselves and their businesses.
The association also recently issued a joint call with The Big Issue and Ride Out Recession Alliance, Shelter, ARLA Propertymark, the Nationwide Building Society, and StepChange the Debt Charity for Minister’s to act and develop an urgent package to help renters in paying off arrears built since March last year.
Last year the Welsh Government introduced a tenant saver loans scheme to support tenants pay off arrears built up due to the coronavirus, following NRLA campaigning.
Interim findings from the NRLA’s latest members’ survey for quarter four of 2020 found 56% of landlords had lost rental income as a result of the pandemic, with 12% having lost more than 20% of that income.
At the same time a survey of current tenants by research consultancy Dynata – commissioned by us here at the NRLA – shows more than 840,000 renters are currently in arrears.
Support our campaign
As the NRLA continues to campaign for more financial support for the sector, we are urging members to make their voices heard on this matter by contacting your MP, and sharing your story with us. To do this easily, please visit our webpage.
