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Original poster

Ed pledges to cap rent rises, extend standard tenancies & scrap fees

135 replies

thevelvetoverground · 30/04/2014 22:57

"At Labour's local and European election campaign launch tomorrow, he will pledge to cap rent rises and to extend the standard tenancy period from six months to three years. As well as this, he will commit to banning letting agent fees, promising to save the average new household £350."

www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/04/milibands-pledge-cap-rent-rises-smart-politics

OP posts:
Fanjango · 01/05/2014 01:36

As far as I can see they are not saying no to rent increases, which would allow for interest rates, just a cap to prevent large increases.

Original poster
thevelvetoverground · 01/05/2014 01:32

I agree lessonsintightropes.

OP posts:
Alibabaandthe40nappies · 01/05/2014 01:27

Farming subsidies are to do with ensuring that land is managed in a certain way, and that there is food for us all to eat.

Fuel duty has no impact on price, it is a tax pure and simple. The scrapping or not of any increase is merely a political tool.

Proposed cap on rail fares, which I think was promptly ignored.

If the proposal is just to cap an increase during a tenancy then that is one thing, but if it goes hand in hand with tenancies being increased to 3 years then that is another altogether. 3 years is a long time - what happens if interest rates rise during that time and the LL is paying more in interest on their mortgage than they are getting in rent? If I were renting I would set the rent much higher at the start of a tenancy to give myself leeway in case that should happen.

lessonsintightropes · 01/05/2014 01:27

I actually think this is long overdue. And that some diminution in house prices is no bad thing in a situation where so few people can afford to get on the ladder. The pendulum has swung far too far in favour of the investor landlords and tenants have far too few rights.

Original poster
thevelvetoverground · 01/05/2014 01:18

The government already have quite a lot to do with the price and cost of things. There are farming subsidies. The government proposed a cap on rail fare rises last year. They decide fuel duty, so have some impact on price. Etc.

OP posts:
Fanjango · 01/05/2014 01:18

From what I read it seems he is proposing a cap on only how much a landlord can raise the rent during a tenancy. I know people who have been made homeless after a rent rise of £150 pm on what had been a £550 rent. Raises like that are not on if you ask me. Tenants need safeguarding. They are not reintroducing fair rent officers or putting a max on rents.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 01/05/2014 01:13

'Laws can do that'.

This pretty much sums up the whole of what is wrong with a Labour government. They should not even be considering trying to legislate in a market in this way, it is crazy.

What next - farmers can't put their prices up? Supermarkets? Petrol stations? Train operators? Car manufacturers?

Original poster
thevelvetoverground · 01/05/2014 01:08

WetAugust: why do you think that would happen? Wouldn't a lot of landlords like long term tenants?

"How can he cap rent rises?" Laws can do that.

OP posts:
Alibabaandthe40nappies · 01/05/2014 01:04

How can he cap rent rises? Private landlords can charge what they like, provided someone is prepared to pay.

The man is an idiot.

WetAugust · 01/05/2014 00:42

Ed will kill the BTL market stone dead, forcing landlords to sell their properties, whivh will result in a glut of properties on the market, causing a house price crash.

Is that what Ed wants?

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