Welcome to our last Newsround for April lets see what’s happened in the housing news this week.
NRLA continues to call on the government
Ben Beadle, CEO of NRLA has again met with Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary to discuss the dire state of available housing in the private rented sector, which is not getting any better, and the impending renter’s reform bill.
NRLA’s latest figures show that 37% of landlords are considering selling up within the next 12 months, and only 13% planning on buying new housing. This alone will only add to the ever-decreasing number of rented homes.
NRLA has met with the government a few times now, and here is what they are calling for:-
- End the anti-landlord rhetoric and back the majority of landlords providing good-quality home to rent
- Address issues that will arise in the student market as a result of plans to introduce indefinite tenancies
- Come up with firm principles as to how councils and police can support landlords to tackle anti-social tenants quickly and effectively – something there has already been movement on
- Reform the courts BEFORE Section 21 powers are removed to tackle lengthy waits for possession.
- Abolish local licensing once the new property portal is introduced
They want all these issues addressed in the Rental Reform Bill and NRLA have produced their own white paper called ‘A New Deal for the Private Rented Sector’.
Let’s hope the government are listening.
Predatory Landlord’s new sex law
The home secretary has announced that a new law is being considered to stop predatory landlords exploiting tenants for sex in return for free or discounted rent. They are calling on those who have already been a victim to put forward their views in a call for evidence.
Whilst the Sexual Offences Act already covers this, the government are keen to find out if this law actually goes far enough to better protect vulnerable victims. Suella Braverman says
It’s wholly unacceptable that vulnerable people, and particularly young women, are being exploited in ‘sex for rent’ arrangements. This is an abuse of power which puts people in desperate situations and has no place in our country. The launch of this public call for evidence brings us closer to ending this deeply harmful trend and better protecting victims.
Research carried out by Shelter claims that 1 in 50 women have been propositioned for ‘sex for rent’ in the last five years. There are a lot of organisations calling for more to be done. Dan Wilson Craw, Deputy Director of Generation Rent, says
This call for evidence is vital. Research conducted by Generation Rent and Mumsnet estimates that over 200,000 women could be victims of ‘Sex for Rent’ in the United Kingdom. Four per cent of all respondents indicated that they had been offered free or discounted rent in return for sexual favours, with this rising to a shocking 1 in 10 respondents with a household income below £20,000.
Government’s war on landlords to blame for housing market shortage
A Daily Telegraph columnist, Matthew Lynn blames the government’s war on landlords for adding to Britain’s inflation problem because housing costs and rising mortgage rates on buy-to-let forcing rent increases keeps forcing inflation higher. And, he thinks the Government are only going to make things worse.
Since George Osborne’s tax hikes, Lynn says there has been a constant list of changes that the government has hit landlords with; including
- removing landlords’ ability to claim mortgage interest payments,
- 3% surcharge on stamp duty,
- removal of 10% wear and tear allowance
- more paperwork due to right-to-rent that the government bought in for immigration checks,
- limiting amounts on tenants deposits, and now
- impending EPC standards and
- more rights for tenants.
All this is driving out the small landlords whilst those that remain are putting up the rents. Lynn says
This demented war on landlords is now a major factor in the cost of living spiralling out of control.
The simple fact of the matter is that the Government has made an almighty mess of housing policy for years. We need lots of affordable homes for people to buy, and homes for people to rent as well, depending on their circumstances. The only way to achieve that is to rip up planning restrictions, overrule local councils and the courts, and start building a lot more.
He goes on to say that the worst part is that the Government doesn’t realise that it is to blame.
Is he right?
Snippets
Government’s war on landlords causing havoc in the rental market
Big questions still need answering over ‘pet renting rights’, senior figure warns
Unscrupulous agents expelled from Property Redress Scheme
Huge six figure fine for mystery HMO landlord
Savills to deliver Chelsea Flower Show’s first ever working kitchen
Michael Gove’s housing reforms are the only ray of light in this doomed government
Newsround will be back next week.