Agents urged to help scrutinise rental reforms and ensure they are ‘fit for purpose’

Timothy Douglas
Timothy Douglas

A new regular government update webinar to help agents get to grips with existing proposals in the recent Renters’ Reform White Paper will soon be launched by Propertymark.

The trade body is seeking clarity on the initial suggestions for the future of the private rented sector in England, and is calling on agents to help.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Propertymark is scrutinising the proposals to ensure that all grounds are strengthened and fit for purpose. Feedback and input from members and the wider sector will be vital to help shape the UK government’s plans and we hope that agents will join us to dissect the changes.”

Daryl McIntosh
Daryl McIntosh

Douglas, who leads on the organisation’s policy and campaign activity across Westminster, will provide a breakdown of what the White Paper looks to enforce.

Meanwhile, Daryl McIntosh, who works on activity in Scotland and Wales, will share his knowledge on how the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 has performed which has similar principles to those in the White Paper.

“Whilst useful to see the UK government’s intended road map for the private rented sector in England, it will be some time before we see legislation and a full timetable of reform,” said Douglas.

 

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3 Comments

  1. toriegirl

    I would like to know what will happen if we want to develop the property and so the tenants need to leave.?

    If EPC upgrades mean tenant cant stay what then?

    What procedures will be in place to ensure you can get the property back?

    Pet damage is immense, and what is stopping a tenant taking out pet damage at beginning of tenancy and cancelling in the 14 days cooling off period.

    Tenants being able to move into a property and a day later give 2 months notice they should pay for the readverting and time its taken to rent the property to them. Landlords could face a 1000 cost every 2 months if unlucky.

    This is to much flexi and really turns the BTL into short term holiday lets so if this is the case we should have the same tax breaks

    Black mould will rise with more insulation due to EPC and high energy bills , many tenants dont use trickle vent, dont open windows and some put plastic over the fans in kitchens.

     

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  2. Woodentop

    1. You will to need to rehouse them at your expense until work is completed?

    2. You will have to end the tenancy.

    3. Think very hard before getting into letting. Could be very costly and the crafty rogue tenants will work out how to play the system!

    4. Nothing!

    5. ?

    6. Predict holiday lets will soon become part of the system of renting. What’s the difference? That will be an eye opener for many who haven’t a clue in  renting properties. Revoke tax on gross pay as is criminal!

    7. You don’t need insulation to rise the blackspot mould. Its tenants lifestyle ….. lazy and couldn’t give a damn. No protection for  a landlord?

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  3. northernlandlord

    Does Propertymark have more influence with the Government than Shelter and Generation Rent? I very much doubt it. The Landlords who will be at the sharp end of all this have no influence at all either as the NRLA have not exactly distinguished themselves in all this. The white paper does not have any real detail in it. It looks like landlords will have to pay for a registration scheme, a decent homes inspection for every new tenancy and to be members of the “powerful” new ombudsman scheme that it seems will issue fines to landlords but not tenants. With AST’s set to be banned a tenant can just apparently walk away scot free from a tenancy the day after moving in leaving the landlord with all the tenant finding, referencing, inventory and all other costs to pick up. However, the landlord is legally committed. With section 21 being banned as well as AST’s the only way they can ever get their property back is if they can prove a Section 8 ground in the current slow, overloaded court system (the dedicated housing court designed to speed up, simplify and cheapen the whole process will now not come about) which will probably take a year or more. A landlord could evict a tenant if they sell up or want to move a relative in. Will there be strings attached to selling up or moving your old mum in? For sure there will be, we just don’t know them yet.  Generation rent are already pushing for tenant compensation at around £1700 a go if you sell up. They will probably get it. Eviction proof tenants who “know their rights” and take a dislike to their landlord will be able to give them hassle by continually reporting them to the ombudsman and disputing every rent rise with a tribunal, while letting their (uninsured) pit bulls eat the skirting boards. The Government seem to forget who a rental house actually belongs to. I have one empty rental that will need about £6,500 spending at some point to get an EPC of C.  I am now seriously worried about moving a new tenant in and never being able to get them out unless I sell up. So I have decided to pre-empt, sell up now and get the equivalent of twenty or more year’s rent at today’s prices (even after CGT) with no hassle. As other tenants naturally leave I will do the same. Unfortunately, while rents have zoomed up this only applies for new tenants. Landlords like me who have not squeezed tenants until the pips squeak now have tenants who will stay put as they can’t afford to go anywhere else. Should I section 21 them all now? I don’t have the heart as I am not the professional landlord that Shelter say I should be.

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