I’ve read about some of the changes that are being proposed by Labour. Some of them I am in favour of - such as the right to have a pet etc.
But AIBU to think that this will make the shortage of rental properties even worse? Landlords have been selling up in their droves due in part to changes in tax law. All I see in my home town is a massive amount of demand and not enough housing stock. A friend of mine works for an estate agent and they can received up to 100 phone calls and emails on any one property. They have to cap viewings at 6 or 7 (otherwise they would never get any other work done!) and so many people are not getting a look in.
I know MN feels badly towards LL in general, and I’m certainly not saying they’re all wonderful people doing a public service, but if it’s made more difficult for them to evict problem tenants, more difficult to increase rent when mortgage payments go up, tied in with the tax law changes, I fear that many will simply give up, sell their properties and walk away from it. Not everyone who is looking to rent will be able to buy those properties and we will have an even smaller supply of rental homes available for people.
Also, I can see a lot of LL hiking up rent as much as they can in advance of this bill being passed. I just don’t think this is going to end well, although I hope I am wrong!