Another week and another Newsround and there is certainly no shortage of housing news. This week we start with the ongoing reform of EPC’s.
Government re-shuffle creates a new department
Grant Shapps has been given a new role in a new department following Rishi Sunak’s re-shuffle. A new department has emerged called Energy Security and New Zero and the rental sector has wasted no time in lobbying Mr Shapps.
Timothy Douglas Head of Policy & Campaigns at Propertymark whilst welcoming the new initiative fromthe Government said
Property agents are looking for clarity on how landlords, homeowners and businesses can meet energy performance targets. [We call] on local and central government to produce a coordinated strategy across the country which incorporates financial incentives, awareness raising and skills development to deliver the improvements that are needed. Improving the energy efficiency of housing and buildings is not only important to reduce fuel bills but is the right thing to do. We look forward to working with the new department to ensure that the property sector can play its part in the UK becoming Net Zero by 2050.
Landlords in particular have been left with a significant amount of work to do and little guidance on how, when or whom they should approach to ensure their properties are compliant with whatever EPC regulations are introduced. We hope that a new, streamlined department will help provide some much-needed clarity on the requirements for landlords, lenders, brokers and house builders alike.
It is safe to say that EPC’s are set to stay in the news this year. With this in mind, a new initiative has been launched by a group of charities.
Charity to help landlords and tenants on saving energy
‘Groundwork’ a federation of charities that work together to mobilise community action on poverty and environment are calling on landlords to come and discuss their EPC ratings of the their let properties. They hope to offer free advice and support to both landlord and tenant to help save energy, reduce fuel bills and make homes warmer and more comfortable.
They will contact your landlords and give helpful advice on what landlords can do to make their rental properties more energy efficient and hopefully move up their EPC rating.
You can read more here.
Another housing minister appointed
So, Rishi Sunak has given us yet another new housing minister in his mini re-shuffle on Wednesday. Rachel Maclean as now the Minister of State in the Department for Levelling Up and Communities. She has quite a record of previous titles and positions within the government, one being Minister of State at Ministry of Justice which lasted six weeks under Liz Truss’ government.
It has been confirmed by the DLUHC that Felicity Buchan will remain the minister for the Renters Reform Bill.
Campaign launched to accept pets
Two of the largest welfare animal organisations want the government to give better protection for tenants with pets as they are getting inundated with pets that tenants are forced to give up either due to down sizing to due spiralling living costs and unable to find affordable pet-friendly properties.
The Cats Protection has said that they are now taking the equivalent of three cats a day as landlords are not allowing them in their properties.
There is no legal right for a landlord to accept a pet, but the request should not reasonably be refused. The Renters Reform Bill is expected to change this so that the landlords must consider the request and cannot unreasonably refuse. Some landlords do not question having a pet whilst other do.
The charities say pets can have a positive impact on the quality of life and mental health of their owners and can prolong how long a tenant stays at that particular property. They say
Allowing pets in rental properties could be advantageous to landlords. Allowing pets could increase the amount of time tenants choose to rent a property. Research by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection found that 26 per cent of tenants would stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet.
Paula Boyden from Dogs Trust says
For most dog owners, being separated from their dog is no different from being separated from a family member, so the introduction of new protection for renters will help ensure that fewer owners are forced to make the heart-breaking decision to give up their beloved pets.
We are pleased to see that the Government has plans to include pet-friendly policies in its Renters Reform Bill, and hope to see these rights enshrined into law soon so that the benefits of pet ownership are no longer exclusive to homeowners, but open to renters as well.
You can read more here.
MP’s report on PRS reform
Proposals from MP’s to reform the PRS following the release of the Levelling up, Housing and Communities Select Committee’s report have been welcomed by landlords.
The Committee warns
It is not clear whether the Government fully appreciates the extent to which an unreformed courts system could undermine its tenancy reforms.
The report says
- There needs to be a specialist housing court, but more important than this is that claims need to be speeded up considerably and guidance needs to be written so that cases can be heard quickly and efficiently.
- Student tenancies should be made exempt from being open-ended tenancies, which makes letting to students practically impossible.
- To review the impact of the recent tax changes on landlords making it more attractive to smaller landlords
- To unfreeze housing benefit rates so that they cover an average rent
Chris Norris of the NRLA says following the report
We warmly welcome much of today’s report and thank the Committee for taking on board many of the arguments we have made. The NRLA has never been against reform of the sector, but it has to be fair and workable for both tenants and landlords. That is why the Committee is right to call for court reform to underpin the ending of Section 21, changes in plans for student tenancies and ensuring cases of anti-social behaviour are prioritised by the courts.
As the Committee rightly notes, the biggest challenge faced by many renters is that there are not enough homes to rent. All the protections in the world will mean nothing for tenants if the homes are not there in the first place. That’s why the Government should accept the Committee and the NRLA’s call for a full review of the impact of recent tax changes in the sector.
There is also the fear that the tenancy reforms could be undermined by delays in the court system and that the government’s proposed ‘sales and occupations’ grounds for eviction could be very easily exploited by rogue landlords and be used for no-fault or unfair evictions.
The report calls for tougher civil penalties on landlords along with robust local councils with enough man power and finances to enforce standards where standards are breached. At present enforcement action by councils is patchy at best and many lack properly trained staff.
There is also a call for a tourist accommodation registration scheme for holiday lets to protect communities from excessive holiday lets in popular areas.
It seems that the government is now listening to the concerns of many landlords and other organisations who have raised concerns against their Renters Reform Bill.
Snippets
New: Big South East council clamps down on smaller HMO’s
Landlords are quitting rented sector say Bank of England
Build to Rent won’t solve shortage of lettings properties – RICS
Rents set to soar as supply shrinks
Supreme Court rules on landlords’ service charge entitlements
Newsround will be back next week.