With more details published on what the main political parties would do to boost housebuilding and improve tenants’ rights, Knight Frank, has taken a closer look at the potential impact of what is being proposed when it comes to the government’s its vision for the private rented sector, and the increasingly heated battle between Labour and the Tories over boosting the delivery of new housing.

Knight Frank points out that building 300,000 new homes per year (last done in 1969) is put forward as a way of bringing down house prices.

Over the last week, the discussion has focussed on building on the country’s green belt, which has received Labour’s caveated endorsement. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have said they will protect green space amid rows over nimbyism.

Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, said: “All valid topics of discussion but they ignore the fact that the delivery of new homes is overwhelmingly governed by demand. Demand is regulated by the prices set by housebuilders, which are linked to the second-hand market. These, in turn, depend on the state of the economy and the lending market. It’s nothing an Economics A-Level student couldn’t tell you.

“Yet the debate has overwhelmingly focussed on more marginal supply-side initiatives.

“Building more truly affordable homes of the right type in the right place is a tremendously complex issue. Which admittedly is not a great soundbite for the evening news.

“Buying land at existing use value is one possible facet of the response. Such an approach for affordable housing is the subject of an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which is currently going through Parliament. Buying land at “no scheme value” was good enough for the last wave of new towns, including Milton Keynes, that were built under the 1946 New Towns Act in the 1960s.”

When it comes to the Renters Reform Bill, designed to tip the balance of power back towards tenants, there is growing concern among buy-to-let landlords, with many concerned that a proposal to Section 21 evictions could increase the risk of them not being able to get their property back.

“Getting a property back to live in or sell would still be a landlord’s right,” said Beverley Kennard, head of lettings operations at Knight Frank. “There are many reasons why a landlord would want possession back of their property and this would now happen under a re-worked system. We are also pleased to see the Bill will look to introduce new grounds for getting a property back, including rent arrears and anti-social behaviour, which should give landlords even more comfort.”

One issue of concern is that tenants may be able to serve a two-month notice at any time. “There is still a long way to go with this Bill and the industry will challenge the government on how practical such an approach would be,” said Kennard, who estimates it could take 18 months for the legislation to apply to new tenancies and a further 12 months for all existing tenancies.

One thing the government will be acutely aware of is how fast rents have been rising over the last two years due to a lack of rental properties. Landlords have left the sector after a series of tax changes in recent years means it has become more financially punitive for them, and the pain has been felt by tenants. They will not want more landlords to follow suit as a result of these latest proposals.