Amendments to Renters Reform Bill backed by senior industry figure

Amendments to the Renters Reform Bill, designed to give landlords more protection, have won the backing of a prominent industry figure.

Neil Cobbold, managing director of PropTech firm PayProp UK, says the amendments help the Bill strike the right balance between the rights of landlords and tenants.

“A recent report from the Bank of England has confirmed that landlords have been leaving the PRS over a number of years because of higher taxes and an increasing burden of regulation,” he said. 

“We all want to see the industry deliver a high standard of homes for tenants and a sustainable return for. landlords, encouraging current property owners to stay and new landlords to invest in more rental stock.”

Cobbold continues: “The vast majority of landlords want to provide decent homes for their tenants, but it is imperative that they feel secure about regaining possession of their properties should they need to do so.

“Ensuring there is real progress in court reforms before any proposed eviction changes take place may reassure landlords who are worried that they may have to wait over five months to recover their property, based on current wait times.

“The four-month minimum rental period should likewise be a comfort to landlords who are concerned about tenants saying they intend to stay for a long period, but once they move in, only stay for a couple of months in the summer, and then move on.

“And giving more protection to the student market – which has been well established for many years as an annual cycle – would be good for student landlords and tenants alike.”

The Bill will shortly enter the report stage of its Commons progress, where MPs will vote on amendments before its final third reading in the House of Commons: the measure then moves to the Lords.

Tory MP Anthony Mangnall last week tabled a series of amendments including 

- Enact the recommendations of the cross-party housing select committee that tenants be unable to give notice to leave a property until they have been in it for at least four months when fixed term tenancies end.

- Enable evidence such as texts or emails from neighbours to be taken into account by the courts when deciding if a tenant has engaged in anti-social behaviour.

- Address concerns that the courts are not prepared for the impact of the end of section 21 repossessions by requiring the Government to publish a review of the operation of possession proceedings in the courts before it is abolished. 

- Prevent a costly duplication of efforts by ending the use of landlord selective licensing schemes by councils when the national Property Portal covering the private rented sector is established.

- Protect the annual cycle of all types of student housing by extending the Government’s proposed ground for possession to achieve this to one- and two-bedroom student properties, not just Houses in Multiple Occupation.

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