Private landlords reject claim over childminder shortage
The NRLA says landlords refuse to accept any blame for problems recruiting childminders.
Landlords are hitting back at claims they are partly responsible for a shortage of childminders.
Ben Beadle, CEO at the NRLA (main picture), says private landlords “refuse to accept the blame for systemic issues in another industry”.
He is responding to a call from the Government to prevent childminders having “the door slammed in their faces”.
Number halved
The number of childminders operating in England has more than halved over the last 10 years.
And Claire Coutinho, the children and families minister, has today written to landlords, housing associations and developers urging them to support prospective childminders who “too often face restrictive clauses in contracts which stop them from working in their homes”.
Too often prospective childminders are having the door slammed in their faces.”
Coutinho says: “Too often prospective childminders are having the door slammed in their faces because they face a blanket ban on working from home.”
Blocked
Childminders in leasehold properties are sometimes being blocked by covenants, which say that the properties cannot be used for business purposes, the Government says.
Others living in rented accommodation found tenancy agreements prevent them from registering their business, or their landlords’ mortgage agreements include restrictions.
Not the issue
But Beadle says: “No landlord wants to stand in the way of the provision of childcare, but the Government must recognise that housing providers are not the issue.
“Mortgage lenders and insurers need to be more flexible in enabling landlords to allow childminders to operate from the properties they let.”
Tenancy deposits must reflect the greater risk of damage to properties being used for childminding, he says.
We refuse to accept the blame for systemic issues in another industry.”
“We will continue to work with the Government on the difficulties and barriers landlords face in enabling tenants to become childminders, but refuse to accept the blame for systemic issues in another industry.”
If it helps my tenants to pay their rent on time they can mind as many children as they want. Despite no rent increase for 6 years one is always late. Our buy to let mortgage has just been renegotiated & has added £100 a month to our costs. My blood boils when the Lefty mafia slag us off. Pick on the bad guys by all means but most of us are bailing out the councils big time & should be treated like the heroes we are!