Renters rights bill

[MoneyNeverSleeps]

A question for LL’s please - what changes will you make in preparation for Labours Renters rights bill please? And what do you see as the wider consequences?

For those who simply wish to hate on LL’s, please don’t bother posting.

Absolutely.

We don’t wish to harm anyone or make life tougher than it already is.

@Bluefields96 you are correct that Labour is continuing with a Bill drawn up under the previous government. The key difference is that they are proceeding with the S21 removal before a thorough assessment of court readiness has been completed. The Tories halted the S21 removal because of concerns the courts could not cope with increased numbers of S8s.

Why are you chucking your good tenants out if you're not sure of selling, though? If you want 'astronomical' rent then surely you can raise it over a period of time?

It provides us with optionality.

Sell or relet basis a much higher rent, which we know our current tenants cannot afford (we have kept rents low over the years).

Simples.

@MoneyNeverSleeps then why evict them and then think of raising the rent? Why not do it over time? Thats not great landlord behaviour.

How do you know they cannot afford it?

See mine above.

Ive been an exceptional LL but I won’t paper up the cracks in Labour policy.

Im not a charity.

We know their income of course.

Simple multiples.

How an earth do you know their income? My LL doesn't know mine.

Keep going.

We have rental insurance and it’s a yearly stipulation.

Yes because it so easy to get a mortgage isn't it when you have to get a massive deposit 🙄. I pay more rent per month than a mortgage would cost me but can't get one.

That's the issue that needs sorting out more than anything.

You have to declare income in the rental checks when you apply.

If I were your LL I would be asking you.

Given the forthcoming bill, your LLs risk will increase.

Labour would not need to put new measures in place if landlords were more responsible.

There are simply too many cases of rogue landlords not maintaining properties and renting places that are dangerous to tenants (mould, damp...) and who evict tenants when they complain about the state of the property rather than repair them as should be their duty.

So if you want to blame anyone for this, it has to be the greedy, rogue landlords who have hoovered up too many properties and fail to do their job correctly and who have given the BTL sector a bad name.

Of course there also needs to be more affordable/social housing built as well to improve the overall rental market.

But landlords and letting agencies in this country need better regulation because there is simply too much exploitation going on.

I think the whole thing is so badly thought out . If they had any sense they'd vastly increase the volume of social housing before pressuring landlords . Exactly where do the government think the low paid are going to live . They'll be on the streets because there's not enough housing stock for everyone that needs it . There isn't enough now never mind when landlords start evicting .
It also gauls me that council stock is some of the very worst , we've all seen the flats with water pouring through the ceiling and children dying of mould etc so put your money where your mouth is and get your own house in order before coming after private landlords who in the main do a decent job , tackle the rogues but no need for this blanket approach.

Why? That post totally contradicts itself. Decent landlords will carry on as normal.

Do you believe the story about courts/capacity?

Plenty of commentators say that's a smokescreen and the real reason was rebellion by Tory MPs who were landlords.

You confuse decency with solvency.

You think LLs should perform a social/charitable role, at a loss/potential loss?

What nonsense.

Yes re court capacity.

From colleague expérience.

I am a decent landlord. Better than decent. But I’m getting out before it becomes harder to remove tenants when they are causing damage to my property and nuisance to my neighbours. It’s not worth the stress, not alongside the right margins and reduced tax relief.

@Bromptotoo I know LLs who are waiting months for court dates. So, no, it's not a smokescreen although that's handy for anyone who doesn't want to acknowledge the facts.

I work on an advice line and the majority of housing problems (extreme damp/mould for example) are from housing association tenants - social housing in this area is all outsourced to housing associations. People are often left for months and months with serious issues that are health or safety risks. I believe these are the sort of things that the new proposals are meant to address, they are not intended to discourage normal, good landlords who try to do the best for their tenants. I am a landlord myself and am not worried.

This is the real travesty - social housing is far less well maintained than private rental stock. But no one wants to talk about that.

I'm not confused at all. I won't make a loss because the property is properly managed. Absolutely basic requirements for letting which they have all over Europe (in fact stronger mostly) and the sky hasn't fallen in.

The country absolutely is desperate for investment in the courts, in social housing, in drug and alcohol prevention etc that's what 14 years of the Tory landlords in charge do for you.

No, it isn't, it attracts more media attention and tenants are more likely to pursue complaints because they don't fear eviction in the same way. Look up the Housing Quality survey data.

Concerning that people claiming to work in the sector don't know the basics.