Posts with tag: tenants

Renters Get Public’s Support for Protection from Eviction

Published On: August 24, 2018 at 9:58 am

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Categories: Tenant News

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Public support is widespread, when it comes to the issue of protection for renters from unfair eviction, results from a survation poll reveal.

With a majority of Conservative voters supporting limits on rent increases, and compensation for tenants evicted through no fault of their own. These results put pressure on the Government to improve its proposed reforms for three-year tenancies, which are out for consultation until this Sunday, 26th August.

The poll comes as renters deliver a petition to Housing Secretary James Brokenshire on Thursday which demands an end to landlords’ right to evict tenants with no reason, and is signed by 50,000 people.

59% of respondents to the poll were in mutual agreement that tenants who pay their rent arrears and maintain their home to a suitable standard should have to pay an automatic right to stay in it, while 61% believed that landlords who choose to evict tenants in order to sell their property or move back in should pay the tenant’s moving costs. Just 21% of respondents thought landlords should be able to evict a tenant without providing a reason for the eviction.

Support from controlling rents was even higher, with almost 72% of respondents agreed that landlords should not be allowed to raise rents by more than rate of inflation.

Furthermore, there was also strong support shown for the belief that landlords should be subject to the same levels of regulation as other business 79% and that tenants should expect the same level of consumer protection from their housing as they would from other services, such as their gas or electricity providers (81%).

If a utility company goes out of business, their customers are allocated a new supplier by Ofgem. Currently, if a landlord sells up, the tenant has to find a new place to live themselves – at their own expense.

The poll uncovers that these measures would be popular across the whole population and political spectrum. A majority of owner occupiers would support tenants receiving compensation if they were evicted by a landlord selling up or moving back in.

Older voters were far more in favour of rent caps than younger voters, with 79% of over 55s agreeing with the statement compared with 68% of 18-34-year olds.

Of the people who voted Conservative last year, support for limits on rent increase is, at 72%, of an equal level to the wider population, and 56% believe that blameless tenants should have their moving costs paid if they are evicted. 64% disagreed that landlords should be able to evict without reason. This statistic was more than the wider population. The law that allows this, Section 21, of the 1988 Housing Act, was introduced by the Thatcher Government.

Generation Rent is campaigning to strengthen the protections for tenants by abolishing Section 21, thus ending the ability to evict without grounds. The campaign proposes that rent rises should be restricted to wage growth and that landlords evicting to sell or move back in pay the equivalent of three months’ rent to support the tenant in finding a new home. This would also incentivise sales with sitting tenants.

The End Unfair Evictions coalition will be handing in a petition to the Housing Secretary at the Ministry of Housing today at 1pm, and is urging renters to respond to the government’s consultation by the end of the week. The End Unfair Evictions coalition is Generation Rent, ACORN, London Renters Union and New Economics Foundation.

Director of Generation Rent, Dan Wilson Craw, commented:
“Private renters are well aware of how precarious their tenancies are. Few have any certainty that their home will be theirs in a year’s time, and if their landlord serves an eviction notice, they will face months of upheaval and thousands of pounds in costs to find a new place to live.

“It is heartening to see that the wider public recognises that we all need a stable home. The government has timid proposals for three-year tenancies, but there is clear support across the political spectrum for indefinite tenancies with real protections for renters. This should give ministers the confidence to go much further.”

Housebuilders Looking to Profit from Generation Rent

Published On: August 24, 2018 at 9:27 am

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Categories: Property News

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Property developers are looking to gain profit from the number of private renters by investing further in purpose-built rental accommodation.

The Build to Rent model provides housebuilders with a new method to generate profit from Generation Rent, which largely explains why the sector is predicted to become a vital growth area in the housebuilding market.

According to the Housebuilding Market Report – UK 2018-2022, including residential conversions, there were around 258,000 new dwellings delivered across the UK in 2016/17, up by 13% on the previous year.

For 2017 to 2018, it is estimated that the rate of growth has been similar, with 280,000 new homes being added in part to purpose-built private rented housing.

In addition to attracting some of the larger housing associations, an increasing number of larger private housebuilding groups are also diversifying into Build to Rent, usually in partnership with private investors.

To obtain the desired rates of return, concentration on their investments is on large-scale apartment developments in major locations of London, the West Midlands and the North West, which offer economies of scale.

In regards to purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), this is mainly being achieved through the increased specification of prefabricated building components and even full offsite building systems such as volumetric modular construction.

Separate research by the British Property Federation (BPF) earlier this year also found that there has been a significant rise in the number of Build to Rent homes complete, under construction and in planning across the UK.

In the UK there are currently in excess of 100,000 Build to Rent homes across all stages of the development lifecycle.

Director of Real Estate Policy at the BPF, commented: “The Build to Rent sector is evolving quickly, with significant delivery in the regions and more houses, rather than just apartments, coming forward.”

Longer Tenancies – Agents’ Consultation Responses Could be Vital

Published On: August 23, 2018 at 9:59 am

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Categories: Lettings News

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PropTech provider PayProp is encouraging letting agents and property professionals to reciprocate to the Government’s consultation on longer tenancies.The automated rental payment platform claimed that agents’ input could be integral in shaping the future policy framework as the industry experiences ongoing change, placing pressure on existing rental tenures.

There’s not much time left to contribute

In July, the Government launched an eight-week consultation on the subject of longer tenancies.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government claimed that a rise in families and older people choosing to rent, rendered it necessary for longer and more secure tenancies than the minimum six months offered by the assured shorthold tenancy regime.

The consultation explores the advantages and disadvantages of introducing a three-year tenancy with a six-month break clause. It also outlines a number of questions for respondents to answer.

Chief Operating Officer of PayProp UK, Neil Cobbold, commented: “Letting agents who want to have their say on the government’s plans to introduce longer tenancies don’t have long to respond to the consultation, as it closes on August 26,”

“Consultations are designed to give important stakeholders a voice in shaping future legislation. For something as significant as overhauling the current structure of tenancies, the more agent and landlord feedback received by the government, the better,” Cobbold commented.

Agents’ experience is valuable

Letting agents’ diverse industry experience – working with different landlords and tenants at a range of properties over a period of time – could be very valuable to politicians shaping the proposed framework around longer tenancies.

“Dealing with new tenancies and renewals on a regular basis means letting agents are well placed to provide feedback on typical tenancy lengths and any potential issues or unintended consequences with longer minimum tenancy agreements,” Cobbold explained.

“Agents also speak daily to landlords and tenants so they will be able to provide useful insight into the consumer reaction to these proposals and whether longer tenancies are something landlords and tenants are keen to see introduced.”

Landlord Fined £5k for Safety Failings

Published On: August 23, 2018 at 8:02 am

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Categories: Landlord News

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Inventories key to fire safety, says the AIIC

A landlord has been ordered to pay over £5,000 subsequent to admitting safety failings at a fire-hit house in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.

Lawrence Connors accepted that he had failed to comply with fire safety regulations when he appeared before Stevenage Magistrates.

Several tenants caused major damage to the property when it caught on fire on 6th November 2017, but luckily no one was injured.

When North Herts District Council’s environmental health team, working with firefighters, discovered that no fire safety measures had been implemented at the property, the council decided to take legal action against the landlord.

What were the consequences?

An emergency prohibition order was served to stop the building from being reoccupied due to the safety risk.

Magistrates chaired by David McDonald fined the 36-year-old landlord £3,500 and ordered him to make a payment of £1,407.29. He must also pay £120 surcharge, making a total bill of £5,027.29.

Councillor Bernard Lovewell, who is responsible for housing and environmental health at the district council, said: “It is vital that landlords make sure that all fire safety measures are put in place when renting out a property.

“It is extremely fortunate that no-one was hurt as a result of the fire at the property.

“Neglecting to do this not only puts tenants at serious risk but also breaks the law, and I hope this prosecution sends out a message to all landlords that they must take their responsibilities seriously.”

All landlords that intend to cover the cost of damage to their property and protect their investment from a host of perils should consider taking out Landlord Insurance.

Just Landlords, the specialist landlord insurance provider, offers the widest cover as standard.

For advice on how to ensure you’re compliant with safety standards, in addition to how you should carry out safety checks in your property, please visit our website and have a read of our informative guides for landlords.

End Unfair Evictions campaign to deliver petition to Ministry of Housing

Published On: August 22, 2018 at 8:58 am

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Categories: Law News

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Campaigners from Generation Rent, ACORN, London Renters Union, and New Economics Foundation will deliver a petition to James Brokenshire, the Secretary of State for Housing, on Thursday, calling for the abolition of Section 21, the law that allows private landlords to evict tenants without needing a reason.

The petition, which has collected nearly 50,000 signatures, will be handed in days before a government consultation on proposals to make private tenancies three years or longer concludes.

The End Unfair Evictions coalition argues that even if the proposals are approved, tenants might still face be evicted without a reason after the three years are up, or even sooner if their landlord intends to sell or move back in.

As well as signing the petition, Generation Rent is encouraging renters to respond to the government’s consultation by its deadline of Sunday 26 August.
This week, hundreds of renters have been using the hashtag #ventyourrent to share experiences of poor conditions, exploitative landlords and unfair terms on Twitter. The hashtag attracted hundreds of tweets and trended for several hours.

Tenants’ stories range from black mould and rent hikes, to revenge evictions in response to requests for repairs, aggressive behaviour from landlords and failure to repair dangerous gas leaks. The hashtag also drew contributions from the growing number of families forced to disrupt their children’s lives by moving frequently, as well as older renters facing insecurity.

Some of the comments on Twitter included:

‘My Landlord has left me and my 2 kids in a damp mould filled flat, with leaking windows, the roof leaked for weeks, we had no floor in the bathroom for months, put the rent up twice, didn’t put our deposit in a T.D.S scheme, threatened to kick us out every 6 months #VentYourRent’

‘Given a s.21 notice for complaining about damp, black mould everywhere, the shower pouring through floor into the kitchen, and a sinkhole in the garden that nearly killed someone. Had to move miles away a few weeks before my daughter sat her GCSEs #ventyourrent’

‘Letting agent told us landlord was happy to extend our contract, but with 5% rent increase. We pushed back as existing rent already extortionate – landlord had no idea about 5%, didn’t want to increase rent and it was all a ploy by (well established) letting agent #ventyourrent’

Director of Generation Rent, Dan Wilson Craw, commented:

“#VentYourRent has highlighted the scale of the problems renters face. Short term tenancies, rent increases and unsafe conditions are disrupting the lives of millions of renters, many of whom are raising children or entering old age.

“The government has recognised that people can’t lead a stable life when their tenancy agreements only last 12 months at most. But its proposal for three-year tenancies with various get-out clauses still leaves the threat of evictions hanging over tenants who’ve done everything right.
“Abolishing Section 21 will allow a much fairer system of tenancies that gives those of us with no prospect of home ownership a

shot at a long-term home.”

Landlords and Tenants to be Consulted Over Scottish Rent Restrictions Proposal

Published On: August 21, 2018 at 9:26 am

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Across Scotland, landlords and tenants will be consulted over objectives to impose rent restrictions north of the border.

Scottish Labour intends to introduce this new legislation, relating rents to average wages, with tenants given the authority to oppose or challenge unfair charges.

Scottish Labour Leader, Richard Leonard allegedly made no secret of his desire to control rents and restrict the authority of private landlords in Scotland, despite concerns that it could have an adverse impact on tenants.

In his keynote speech, ‘Mary Barbour Law’ is named after the Red Clydeside political activist who played an integral role in the rent strikes of 1915.

Leonard has reiterated his intention to reform the rental market in Scotland.

He commented: “Too many young families are caught in a vicious cycle – a lack of affordable public housing forces people to rent privately and as a result many are paying rip-off rents which stops them saving for a deposit to buy their own home.

“Our proposals for a Mary Barbour law will seek to regulate the private rented sector to ensure that no one is forced to rent a home that pushes them into poverty or falls below the standards needed to protect their physical and mental health and well-being.

“A home is a basic fundamental human right. The Scottish Parliament must endure that that everyone can exercise this right to live in security, peace, and dignity.

“While the SNP tinkers around the edges, Labour will deliver real change. The first step towards that is this a major discussion paper to guide our reforms.”