Rental reform on the agenda as NRLA meets with PRS Minister
Court reform, student lets and a proposed moratorium on notice periods came under the microscope yesterday, in a meeting between NRLA CEO Ben Beadle and Minister for the PRS Jacob Young.
The NRLA is committed to ensuring that the Renters (Reform) Bill retains the support of responsible landlords while allowing the Government to meet its commitments to tenants, with Ben sharing members’ concerns – and potential solutions.
Ben asked for more detail on court reform, and how the Government will assess when the courts are ready for change, following the commitment that Section 21 will only go after improvements to the courts. The Minister reinforced this position.
He also reiterated the association’s calls for an amendment to the Bill to introduce a moratorium on tenants serving notice. This would prevent tenants from giving two months’ notice to leave a property until after they had lived there for six-months.
The follows fears that proposals currently included in the Bill could turn the sector into ‘Airbnb lite’; with tenants able to give two months’ notice as soon as they move in.
The NRLA argues the amendment is vital if landlords, particularly those with mortgages to pay, are to have the security they need to remain in the sector and continue to invest; concerns shared by organisations including UK Finance and build-to-rent operators Grainger, as well as the influential Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee.
Ben said: “It was a really constructive meeting and a great opportunity to share with the Minister the concerns our members have and the unintended consequences of some aspects of the Bill.
“We know change will happen, but this was a great opportunity to not only raise our concerns, but proposed sensible and workable solutions that will benefit both landlords and tenants.”
Elsewhere on the agenda Ben and the Minister addressed another proposal put forward by the NRLA, calling on the Government to extend its amendment introducing a possession ground for student HMOs to other student lets.
They also discussed how the transition from ASTs to periodic tenancies will pan out, with the Ben urging the Minister to introduce change over a period of three years, to minimise the impact on the supply of homes to let.
He argued that allowing pre-existing ASTs to come to end naturally would avoid the situations seen in Scotland and Wales, where similar reforms saw the Scottish PRS shrink by 6% and Welsh possession claims increase by almost 300%.
More information
The NRLA is continuing to lobby for amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill as it passes through Parliament. To find out more about the campaign and how to get involved click here.
