Practical steps could and should have already been taken in preparation for the Bill. We are equally frustrated that it has taken so long for a commitment to undertake these reforms to be made, when their necessity has been clear for several years. In view of this, I would welcome your response to the following points.Īs you know, in response to the LUHC Committee report on the private rented sector, the Government made clear that it “will not proceed with the abolition of section 21, until reforms to the justice system are in place.” Landlords and tenants mutually depend on one another and reform of the sector must work for both parties. We do not think this has to be the case and are concerned at some of the language which gives the impression that someone can be pro-landlord or pro-tenant, but not both. Over recent years, debate about the future of the private rented sector has become increasingly polarised as a battle between the needs of tenants on the one hand and those of landlords on the other. Rightmove, Zoopla and others all point to the demand for private rented housing already outstripping available supply. After all, greater security for tenants will not mean much if the homes to rent are not there in the first place. However, alongside this, reform of the rental market needs to carry the confidence of responsible landlords. Likewise, we support calls for the unjust freeze on LHA rates to be reversed. We agree that tenants need to feel confident to raise complaints about poor quality housing that councils need the resources to take enforcement action against rogue and criminal landlords and that tenants should have access to proper legal support where posses- sion cases end up in the courts. I write to you as your organisations are leading members of the Renters Reform Coalition.Īs you will know, the NRLA has never shied away from accepting the challenges that tenants face in the private rented market. For example, would a large dog in a small flat without a garden be suitable?” Again, Beadle’s letter asks supplementary questions to tease out what the organisations want.īeadle also writes at length about the association’s long-standing position on courts reform, and ends the correspondence with a request for a joint approach by the NRLA and the coalition on the need to persuade government to reverse the freeze of Local Housing Allowances. In another part of his letter Beadle says: “We note again however that Tom Darling, speaking on behalf of the Renters Reform Co- alition, has said that if tenants want ‘a pack of Great Danes’, living in their properties, ‘that should be their right.’ Given this comment, we would welcome your proposals as to when a property might be unsuitable for a certain type or number of pets. ” Beadle then asks a series of detailed questions about the organisations’ views on repossession. This is not a stance the NRLA agrees with, but we would appreciate the opportunity to understand your respective organisations position on. The letter from Beadle says in one part: “In a thread on X, Tom Darling from he Renters Reform Coalition implied that all grounds for repossession should be discretionary. In the letter, Beadle singles out tweets posted X (formerly Twitter) by Tom Darling, whose profile describes himself as campaigns manager of the Renters Reform Coalition and an occasional contributor to Labour In Communications, "the fast-growing network of Labour supporters working in the communications, public affairs and media industry.” They are Matt Downie (chief executive of the homeless charity Crisis), Polly Neate (chief executive of campaigning charity Shelter), Sam Stewart (interim chief executive of the Nationwide Foundation, which funds the coalition) Matthew Upton (acting chief executive of policy and advocacy at Citizens Advice) the policy team at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and Ben Twomey, (chief executive of Generation Rent.)īeadle’s letter centres on what he calls “the divine rhetoric” used by some in the coalition.
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