Another week, another Newsround, and with the budget in the mix this week let’s see what has been trending in the housing news this week. But first:
Is the Renters Reform Bill on the brink of collapse?
This was alleged in an article in the Sun newspaper. This claims that Michael Gove is being held to ransom by ‘angry Tory MPs’.
An unnamed source is quoted as saying
The Renters Reform Bill looks like it may now collapse and the Tories risk breaking their manifesto commitment to end no fault evictions. Officials are at a total loss given both pro-landlord groups like the National Residential Landlords Association and pro-renters groups like the Renters Reform Coalition want this bill passed ASAP. It seems a small group of landlord MPs, led by Anthony Mangnall, are holding the bill to ransom.
The article goes on to say that Magnall insists that he supports the abolishing of no fault evictions but he and a large number of Tories are concerned about ending fixed terms and replacing them with periodic tenancies, saying
“I want to amend the Bill not to kill it.
It’s my role as a legislator to ensure we pass sensible legislation. We’ve had constructive meetings with Michael Gove.
This is about trying to find the right balance.
We shall have to see how this story develops o
Not a budget for landlords
Landlords have not faired well from this weeks budget announcements with the end of a tax scheme that offered tax incentives for landlords of short lets. Mr Hunt said that this ‘regime distorts the housing market depriving local people of affordable homes’. This will take effect from April 2025.
The Chancellor also said that Multiple Dwellings Relief, which gives stamp duty discounts to buyers of multiple properties in one transaction, was ‘being regularly abused’ and this too is to be abolished.
He did however lower the higher rate of property capital gains tax from 28% to 24% in a bid to motivate landlords and second home owners to sell up giving opportunities to first time buyers.
Chief Executive of the NRLA, Ben Beadle exclaimed that this will go nowhere to revitalise the ‘long term investment in quality rented accommodation’ He said
With an average of 11 tenants chasing every home for private rent, social housing waiting lists at 1.3 million, almost 110,000 households in temporary accommodation and the number of first-time buyers slumping, the Budget needed to tackle the housing crisis once and for all. What we got was a deafening silence.
This was a missed opportunity to make providing new homes to rent and buy the priority it desperately needs to be.
We look to see how this will affect the PRS.
Concerns over E-bike charging increase in rental homes
The government are proposing to double the maximum legal power of e-bikes from 250 watts to 500 watts. Safety groups such as Electrical Safety First and the fire brigade are concerned that this could increase house fires as the batteries are left unattended in homes whilst they are charged and sub-standard e-bike batteries are already ‘causing devastating fires across the country’.
Even in the government’s proposal they state that the energy capacity could make battery fires more severe.
This is of great concern to landlords who need to have some house rules in place for any tenants that keep e-bikes in their properties and charge the batteries in the property. I reported on this last year in my blog you can read it here.
Furthermore, If you are a Landlord Law member we also deal with this in our tenancy agreements and have an e-bike standard letter that you can use here in which we list the conditions that your tenants can keep an e-bike.
PRS housing supply falls to a new low
Zero Deposits claim following research that the proportion of private rented properties in England has fallen to its lowest level in ten years and attribute this to the government ignoring the rental sector in favour if homeownership. Despite the availability of rental homes increasing from 4.5 million in 2013 to 4.9 million in 2024, they say that this has not kept up with the ever-increasing demand.
Sam Reynolds, chief executive, says
This market imbalance has been one of the key factors that have caused rents to spiral beyond the realms of affordability and it’s a clear indictment of multiple cabinets that this issue has continued to worsen.
Zero Deposits research also highlighted regional differences in rental property availability along with lack of investment in the PRS.
You can read more here.
Landlord ignores gas safety regulations
A landlord has been fined £1236.86 plus additional charges for failing on her gas safety obligations. She persistently ignored council warnings of producing her gas safety certificate and other documents to the council after her tenant complained to the council for not having and heat or hot water as her gas supply had been cut off due to a gas leak. It was later heard in court that the gas flue was full of builders foam and the gas pipes were corroded.
Tracey Robinson, the landlord went to trial but the court did not accept her reasons of moving house for not receiving the councils letters and she was charged with negligence, and even when she fixed the faults she still failed to produce her gas certificate to the council.
Claire Rowntree, a councillor at Sunderland City Council said
Owning property and being a landlord brings with it important legal and health and safety responsibilities that must be met. These are especially important when it comes to gas safety and utility regulations. Failing to meet these responsibilities can have consequences.
Snippets
Sefton: Landlord evicting four families on one street
Cardiff: Council tax on empty homes could go up by 300%
Eco-activists slam landlords selling up because of rent controls
Rent arrears soar amid economic woes
Newsround will be back next week.