Tory MP urges Ministers to make renting reforms more workable

Landlords are backing new amendments to the looming Renters (Reform) Bill made by a Conservative MP which, it is claimed, will ensure the controversial legislation “works for the private rented sector as a whole”.

Tabled by Anthony Mangnall MP, the changes are being backed by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) as the legislation approaches its report stage in Parliament.

The ‘pragmatic’ amendments being suggested by Mangnall include preventing tenants from giving notice until they have lived in a property for four months, a measure that would offer a balance that needs to be struck between security of tenure for tenants and a degree of certainty for landlords.

Mangnall’s other amendments include:

Anti-social behaviour

• Enabling evidence such as texts or emails from neighbours to be considered by the courts when deciding if a tenant has engaged in anti-social behaviour.

Evictions

• Addressing concerns that the courts are not prepared for the impact of the end of section 21 repossessions by requiring the Government to publish a review of the operation of possession proceedings in the courts before it is abolished.

This follows recently warnings from The Law Society that the courts are ‘vastly overstretched’ and that Ministers should outline how they intend to manage increased demand on the courts and what additional resourcing it will put in place to deal with existing backlogs.”

Licensing

• Preventing a costly duplication of efforts by ending the use of landlord selective licensing schemes by councils when the national Property Portal covering the private rented sector is established.

Students

• Protecting the annual cycle of all types of student housing by extending the Government’s proposed ground for possession to achieve this to one- and two-bedroom student properties, not just Houses in Multiple Occupation.

Supply crisis

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA, says: “We accept that section 21 is going and agree that tenants need to feel empowered to challenge the actions of rogue and criminal landlords.

“However, amidst a supply crisis in the rental market, it is vital that the Bill has the confidence of responsible landlords.

“These pragmatic changes would go a long way towards striking the balance between the needs of renters and the majority of landlords who do right by their tenants.”

Read more about the Renters (Reform) Bill