The launch yesterday of a consultation by the government on establishing a new housing court has been welcomed by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA).
The proposals unveiled by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire would see landlords and tenants receive faster and more effective justice in the event of property disputes.
Government will seek views on a specialist housing court which, if created, would provide a single path of redress for both landlords and tenants, giving them the power to resolve the dispute.
Housing disputes are currently held in a number of different legal settings, which can often lead to confusion and act as a deterrent to some of the most vulnerable seeking justice.
But the government hopes that its proposals will help to address these issues, providing landlords with the confidence to offer longer and more secure tenancies.
Brokenshire said: “Everyone deserves to live in a safe and decent home, and this government is bringing about real change in making renting more secure.
“This is particularly important for families and vulnerable tenants who live with the fear of suddenly being forced to move, or fear eviction if they complain about problems with their home. It is also important for landlords who, in a minority of cases, struggle to get their property back when they have reason to do so.
“The proposals announced will help ensure both tenants and landlords can access justice when they need it – creating a fair housing market that works for everyone.”
Introducing a housing court that helps to improve and speed up access to justice would be “good news for landlords and tenants”, according to David Smith, policy director for the RLA.
He added: “It will help root out criminal landlords more quickly, give tenants better ability to enforce rights granted by new legislation on property fitness, and give greater confidence to landlords to offer longer tenancies.”
The consultation will run until 22 January 2019.
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