Welcome to our last Newsround for October, where this week has seen the Renters Rights Bill move to the Committee stage.

You can read my blog here, where I summarise the main themes and topics that were discussed.

There has not been much positive news this week for landlords or anyone else for that matter, but let’s see what we have found.

Final plea for the Renters Rights Bill to be fair

Propertymark has voiced it’s concerns to the government that the Renters Right Bill must be balanced and fair to all parties, tenants, landlords and letting agents in order to sustain a healthy private rented sector.

They have concerns that the bill does not address the current demand and continued supply of housing for the private rental sector. They also want the bill to address the specific requirements of the student sector.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns said

Key concerns remain about how this legislation will support landlords and agents to meet the huge demand for rented property.

They support the new Private Rented Sector Database but only if council licensing schemes are phased out. Like other organisations, they say that the court system needs to be reformed at the same time to allow it to cope adequately and robustly.

Greener homes without increased rents, say tenants

A survey out this week claims that 80% of tenants want rental properties to be at an EPC ‘C’ rating; however only 6% are prepared to more rent in order to help fund energy efficiency upgrade works.

Leaders Romans Group claim that this will cause more headaches for landlords who will need to juggle the large cost of upgrading their rentals with very little support from the government.

The government wants all rentals to be at an EPC ‘C’ by 2030, but its only offer of support so far is to those in low-income households.

Allison Thompson of Leaders Roman Group said

Without government intervention or financial incentives, the adoption of these features will likely remain slow, despite growing interest.

Stand alone student tenancies are needed

A landlord association is calling for a specifically tailored fixed-term tenancy to be allowed for student renters that would provide security for students, but give flexibility around the academic year for landlords.  They are proposing that this gets written into the Renters Rights Bill.

IHowz claim that the tenancy would have clear start and end dates, giving guaranteed accommodation to students for the duration of their academic year whilst allowing landlords the ability to re-let for the next academic year.

They are also calling for a ‘property MoT’ where mandatory registration is required and all documents, such as gas certs, electrical certificates, EPC’s etc are all held in one place, negating the need for licensing schemes.

You can read more here.

Let’s end this Newsround on some more encouraging news.

Welsh Housing Committee incorporates suggestions into the PRS

Propertymark has had a positive impact into the Welsh Government and Housing Committee’s White Paper on Housing Adequacy and Fair Rents, where it put forward constructive recommendations, some of which are:-

• An update was given on the impacts put in place to deter landlords from converting properties into holiday lets.
• Warning the government that ‘one size does not fit all’ where energy efficiency is concerned.
• Raised concerns over the government mandating that when a no-fault eviction is given the tenant is entitled to the last two months’ of rent as compensation
• Database for councils to identify older tenants

Propertymark also requested that the Welsh Government give landlords grants and loans in order to help them make energy efficiency improvements.

Tim Thomas of Propertymark said

We will continue to advise the Welsh Government on the positive impact boosting the supply of homes to rent will have on reducing costs for tenants

Snippets

Student landlord group warns Labour over banning fixed-term tenancies
Big portfolio landlord to pay tenants £15,000 over missing licence
Housing review call for a new housing strategy
Pets in lets – League table of best and worst locations

See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law

Newsround will be back again next week

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