Government pledges help for landlords with anti-social tenants

The government has accepted proposals from the National Residential Landlords Association to tackle anti-social tenants causing misery for neighbours and fellow tenants alike.

Delivering her first speech as housing minister for the private rented sector to the NRLA’s annual conference, Felicity Buchan MP said the government’s ambition was to strengthen the grounds enabling landlords to tackle anti-social behaviour when Section 21 repossessions are scrapped under the Renters Reform Bill to be presented to parliament in the near future.

The minister accepted the NRLA’s proposal to convene a meeting of key stakeholders representing landlords, tenants, the police, local authorities and others to develop plans to ensure swift and effective action can be taken against anti-social tenants.

Buchan outlined the government’s commitment to ensure its plans to reform the private rented sector work for responsible landlords as well as tenants, and claimed her government understood concerns about the impact its plans could have on the student housing market. Likewise, she made clear the importance of the court system working “properly and efficiently” when Section 21 is abolished.

Buchan went on to reiterate the policies outlined in the past by former junior minister Eddie Hughes MP, that there would be no rent controls in England. She said such controls would lead to “disinvestment in the sector, which is not good for anyone”.

NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle says: “The NRLA has made clear that more needs to be done to ensure the behaviour of anti-social tenants can be tackled effectively when Section 21 goes. 

“We therefore welcome the minister’s acceptance of our proposal for a roundtable on the issue. It is vital that all key stakeholders representing landlords, tenants, the police and others can develop clear and workable plans to ensure neighbours and fellow tenants alike are not left at the mercy of nightmare tenants.”

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