From Carla Denyer via Twitter
Really pleased to see a new, beefed-up Renters' Rights Bill proposed by this government. The immediate ban on Section 21 'no fault' evictions is very welcome and will help protect over 10 million renters from risk of eviction. Longer notice periods, banning bidding wars, Awaab's law to address dangerous hazards such as damp and mould, a landlord register, abolishing blanket bans on those with children or on benefits, and a default right for tenants to have pets - all urgent and really positive.
But on affordability I would have liked to see a lot more. This is an opportunity missed. We must not miss this opportunity. There are some measures to stop rents being hiked very high mid-contract, but nothing to control overall affordability, e.g. by allowing councils to introduce rent controls in overheated housing markets as The Green Party long campaigned for. And a lot of reliance on individual tenants challenging increases, which inevitably means the most vulnerable, lacking the spare time or capacity, will face the most unreasonable rent increases.
Greens are also keen to ensure energy efficiency is properly and thoroughly addressed by this bill. A decent, warm home is a right. It is welcome that the Government is going to introduce a Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector but the devil will be in the detail, including how much funding is attached and how it is enforced.
This hugely important and urgent bill looks good as a starting point – but there is a serious gap on tackling sky-high rents and more clarity on making homes energy efficient and cheaper to heat would be hugely welcome. Where there are gaps, Green MPs really want to work with Ministers to close them. We had five years of failed promises from the last Tory Govt during which time households were threatened with homelessness over 80,000 times – this time we need swift and ambitious action for renters who are being ripped off, living in cold homes or being made homeless.
4 comments:
Perhaps some of the many Labour Councillors in Brent who are landlords can explain how this will work in practice.
Brent Council has failed to build enough affordable homes for years. They are desperate to find decent properties in the private landlord sector - but cannot. As a results hundreds of families are living in very expensive and unsuitable hotels. SO how exactly is any of this going to help? Where is the incentive for good landlords to stay in the rental market rather than getting out? There is NO answer to this problem in this Green sound bite.
Perhaps if they enforced their so called "Licensing policy" for all HMO's and Landlords that are reported for not having one would help.
Why is it for Brent labour landlords to answer this question? Sounds like jealousy rather than anything helpful.
It is a Labour Government who are introducing this Policy - so presumably they consulted Labour Councillors who may be asked to enforce it. If you are also a landlord then you may have some practical experience on whether the policy is realistic and what it's unintended consequences may be.
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