MP joins industry calls for Ministers to ‘get on with it’ and bring in renters reform bill

Trade body Propertymark has backed calls by MP Catherine West for the government to reveal when it intends to reveal its delayed renting reform proposals.

The MP, who represents Hornsey & Wood Green in North London, made the call after telling the Commons about a block of flats in her constituency whose new landlord recently threatened the entire block with either eviction via a Section 21 notice if they didn’t accept a 30% rise in rents.

Many tenants were faced with the ‘Hobson’s choice’ just before Christmas, with many of being long-term tenants with families.
Offering up the case as an example of why rent reform is needed, West wondered why the government has still to publish its White Paper on the proposals, let alone launch the legislative process.

Growing concern

Propertymark’s Policy and Campaigns Manager Timothy Douglas agrees with the MP, saying that his organisation is concerned that the government has so far only committed to publishing its proposals until ‘later this year’.

“These important reforms, which includes a commitment to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’, has already been delayed and we are concerned with just two years left in this Parliament, that time is running out for the UK Government to deliver on its manifesto pledge to reform the private rented sector in England.

“Landlords have known for a long time that it is coming, what they now need to know is what will be in its place.

“This will help to retain confidence in the sector and end the uncertainty that risks pushing out the good landlords that the Minister rightly referred to during the debate as being key to contributing to the homes that we need.”

Watch West’s comments in full.