Representatives from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) will attend the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester this weekend, where we will be championing the voice of landlords and setting out their vision for the future of the private rented sector (PRS).

Attendance at this year’s conference is seen as crucial to NRLA’s campaigning as the prospect of a general election approaches.

With the Conservative Party in the process of crafting its manifesto, the NRLA says its wants to try and influence thinking and make sure landlords’ concerns are reflected in future policy.

At the conference, NRLA representatives will meet with MPs and influential stakeholders, briefing them on the critical issues facing those who invest in the PRS and lobby for more favourable tax changes for landlords, as well as offer insight into the potential impact of the Renters (Reform) Bill on the industry.

The NRLA will also host a wide-ranging debate on the biggest challenges facing the PRS, in partnership with independent think tank, Bright Blue – a discussion that will explore how the Conservative Party can unite landlords and renters.

Titled ‘Going private: reforming the UK’ rental market’, the discussion will see NRLA chief executive, Ben Beadle, share the stage with housing minister, Rachel Maclean, and other contributors including prominent journalists Liam Halligan, who is Economics and Business Editor at GB News, and Zoe Grunewald who covers policy and politics for the New Statesman.

The panellists will tackle some of the most challenging questions facing the sector, including how public trust in housing policy can be boosted, what role the PRS can play in easing our housing problems and how we can prepare the sector to cater to the needs of older households.

Beadle said: “Attendance at the party conferences is vital to ensuring landlords’ voices are heard by decision-makers and other stakeholders.”

“It is critical the government gets it right when it comes to the PRS, which is why we are delighted Housing Minister Rachel Maclean will be joining us at the panel discussion, where we will take a deep dive into key issues impacting landlords and their businesses.

“Changing the dialogue when it comes to landlords and the PRS is one of the NRLA’s key priorities. We are not the enemy, and we want politicians to understand that landlords play a vital role in the provision of safe and secure housing in England.”

Conservative Party Conference 2022: