Propertymark is ramping up pressure on the UK Government to adopt key amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill that it says are essential for maintaining balance and stability in the rental sector.
As the Bill heads to its Committee stage in the House of Lords later today Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, says that the Government must “listen to Peers and act” to ensure the Bill works for landlords, tenants, and agents alike.
Propertymark has welcomed several proposed amendments it has long campaigned for.
These include mandatory qualifications for letting agents, preserving the option of fixed-term tenancies, boosting court capacity ahead of the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, and extending the deposit cap for tenants with pets.
EVIDENCE-BASED
Douglas (main picture) says: “There’s no question that reform is needed but it must be done in a way that is evidence-based, fair, and workable for everyone involved.”
Equally critical, adds Douglas, is the introduction of a national register for short-term lets.
“It’s vital that measures to register short-term lets come in alongside these regulations to level the playing field,” he says.
Without adequate support landlords could face uncertainty and disruption.
But Propertymark is also sounding the alarm over implementation challenges, warning that without adequate support, landlords could face uncertainty and disruption.
Douglas says: “It remains imperative there is adequate support for landlords to plan and implement all necessary changes. And any new legislation must be kept under full review to ensure it stays relevant, evidence-based, and fit for purpose in the years ahead.”
The Renters’ Rights Bill, seen as the most significant shake-up of the private rental sector in a generation, continues to draw sharp scrutiny from across the property landscape.
With the Committee stage looming, eyes are now on how the Government will respond to mounting calls for change.
