NRLA responds to reports over bill's amendments
The Renters (Reform) Bill must offer equal protection to tenants while meeting the operational needs of landlords, aiming for a balanced approach that facilitates the provision of rental housing, a landlords association has stated.
Responding to a BBC report, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) addressed government plans to revise the bill, watering down protections for renters and increasing rights for landlords.
Ben Beadle (pictured), NRLA chief executive, said they have long acknowledged the government’s mandate to abolish fixed term tenancies and no-fault evictions, emphasising its commitment to shaping a system that benefits both tenants and conscientious landlords.
“Our focus has, and continues to be, on developing a replacement system that is fair and workable for tenants and responsible landlords,” Beadle said. “This need not be a zero-sum game between the two.
“The NRLA has consistently campaigned for the bill to balance the protections promised to tenants and the legitimate business needs of landlords to enable them to continue to provide rented homes.”
🆕Breaking: Following claims by the BBC that the Government will amend rental reform plans, NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle has called for planned changes to be made public.
— NRLA - National Residential Landlords Association (@NRLAssociation) February 28, 2024
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The NRLA is advocating for amendments that would guarantee a six-month minimum term for landlords and boost confidence in the judicial process, suggesting that such changes could achieve the desired balance.
“We now need to see these amendments published in full so that all parties can judge for themselves what is on the table and move on with debating the bill in public,” Beadle added. “The lack of progress and uncertainty about the future is destabilising and damaging for those living and working in the private rented sector.”
The cross-party housing select committee has proposed that tenants should not be permitted to terminate fixed-term rental agreements with two months’ notice until they have occupied the property for at least four months. This measure aims to provide landlords with a guaranteed six months of rent at the beginning of a tenancy, offering them legal certainty.
The Law Society has earlier raised concerns that the bill may not attain its objectives without further investment in housing legal aid and the court system. It warned that the lack of support could result in increased backlogs, hindering both landlords and tenants from asserting their legal rights.
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