The House of Lords is set to debate the Second Reading of the Renters’ Rights Bill tomorrow and Peers must use this crucial opportunity to push back against restrictive regulations that threaten to reduce the supply of rental homes, drive up rents, and make it harder for people to secure affordable housing.
That’s the message from Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark.
In the House of Commons, the UK Government introduced amendments to the Bill, including limits on how much rent landlords can request in advance.
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook MP insists that the legislation offers greater protections for both landlords and their properties.
Despite significant engagement from Propertymark with MPs, unresolved concerns persist following the Bill’s Third Reading in the Commons.
KEY ISSUES
Key issues include the regulation of short-term lets, how the UK Government will manage increased demand on the courts and what additional resources will be allocated to address existing backlogs.
Student landlords also face uncertainty, particularly those with properties that are not classified as Houses in Multiple Occupation.
The removal of fixed-term tenancies and stricter rent-in-advance requirements could further limit students’ access to private rented accommodation.
There are also widespread concerns about whether local councils have the capacity and resources to enforce the new regulations.
Without a clear roadmap for implementation, lettings agents, landlords, and tenants remain in a state of uncertainty.
Propertymark has been at the forefront of campaigning for fair, balanced, and effective reform. More than 200 emails and letters have been sent to Peers by members across the country, using Propertymark’s Toolkit to highlight why amendments to the Bill are essential.
The Toolkit, available in the Propertymark member area, provides a list of contacts and a letter template to help agents reach members of the House of Lords. More details can be found HERE.
RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS
Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, says: “Propertymark recognises the UK Government’s intention to protect renters and provide greater security. However, letting agents are deeply concerned that overly restrictive regulations will reduce rental home availability, push up rent prices, and further limit access to affordable housing.
“We urge Peers to ensure the Renters’ Rights Bill is fit for purpose.
“A clear timetable for implementation must be set out, including a commitment to enact the registration of short-term rental properties alongside these reforms, as outlined in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act.”
DECISIVE ACTION
And he adds: “The Government must also provide clarity on court reform and take decisive action to support the sector. Additionally, revisions to restrictions on rent in advance are necessary to protect vulnerable tenants and allow agents and landlords to process applications securely.
“Concerns remain over the viability of pet insurance products, and a more effective solution would be to extend the deposit cap requirements.
“Furthermore, standards and enforcement will be crucial to these reforms. With landlords now required to have redress, introducing a unified code of practice would ensure consistency in complaints adjudication and improve service quality across the sector.”
