Latest news with #NationalResidentialLandlordsAssociation
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour urged to publish impact of rent reforms as eviction delays soar
Ministers are being urged to publish a report into the impact of rental reforms on the courts as landlords face eight-month delays to repossess their property. Government departments are required to complete a justice impact assessment for any new bills that are likely to impact the UK courts system. Labour's Renters' Reform Bill is set to become law this summer and will include the removal of Section 21 'no-fault evictions'. There are fears the change will force landlords to rely on the courts to regain possession of their properties, adding to existing backlogs. Private landlords faced an eight-month wait from making a claim to the courts to their properties being repossessed in the first four months of 2025, according to the latest government data. Chris Norris, chief policy officer for the National Residential Landlords Association, said: 'The justice system is simply not ready for the impact of the Bill. 'In the interests of transparency, the Government should publish the Justice Impact test. The Government also needs to come clean about how it defines the courts being ready for the reforms. Warm words are no substitute for clear objectives for the justice system.' Justice impact assessments are an internal process and not usually published by government departments, but previous ministers have committed to publishing court reviews ahead of implementing rental reforms. The former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee in a 2023 report said: 'It is not clear whether the Government fully appreciates the extent to which an unreformed courts system could undermine its tenancy reforms.' Furthermore, in a consultation in 2022, the then-government acknowledged that Section 21 was preferred by landlords to other means of eviction – such as Section 8 – as it was perceived as 'quicker and more certain'. Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society, said of the Renters' Rights Bill: 'The bill will not be effective without further investment in the justice system.' Mr Atkinson also urged the Government to 'provide greater funding and more clarity to the enforcement provisions so that justice is accessible to renters and landlords alike'. In addition to concerns about the justice system, a report has warned impacts of the bill will add almost £900 a year to the average tenancy. The legislation will limit landlords to just one rent increase per year capped at the 'market rate' – the price that would be achieved if the property was newly advertised to let. Landbay said property owners were planning to increase rent by an average of 6pc, which would add £74 to the average monthly rent, or £888 a year. Dr Neil Cobbold, director at property software company Reapit UKI, said: 'The Government's decision not to share the Renters' Rights Bill justice impact test raises serious questions about transparency and accountability. The estimate of changes in the number of court and tribunal cases is a vital tool for understanding how the legislation will affect the property sector – including case volumes – and whether the justice infrastructure is in place to support the change.' The Bill is currently going through the House of Lords before being sent back to the Commons and is expected to receive Royal Assent by summer 2025 and be implemented before the end of the year. An MHCLG spokesman said: 'As was the case under previous governments, Justice Impact Tests are internal government documents and it is not standard practice for them to be published. 'We are fully focussed on ensuring the justice system is ready for our reforms, which will create a fairer housing market, and are working closely with the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunal Service to ensure all necessary preparations are in place.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour urged to publish rent reforms impact report as eviction delays soar
Ministers are being urged to publish a report into the impact of rental reforms on the courts as landlords face eight-month delays to repossess their property. Government departments are required to complete a justice impact assessment for any new bills that are likely to impact the UK courts system. Labour's Renters' Reform Bill is set to become law this summer and will include the removal of Section 21 'no-fault evictions'. There are fears the change will force landlords to rely on the courts to regain possession of their properties, adding to existing backlogs. Private landlords faced an eight-month wait from making a claim to the courts to their properties being repossessed in the first four months of 2025, according to the latest government data. Chris Norris, chief policy officer for the National Residential Landlords Association, said: 'The justice system is simply not ready for the impact of the Bill. 'In the interests of transparency, the Government should publish the Justice Impact test. The Government also needs to come clean about how it defines the courts being ready for the reforms. Warm words are no substitute for clear objectives for the justice system.' Justice impact assessments are an internal process and not usually published by government departments, but previous ministers have committed to publishing court reviews ahead of implementing rental reforms. The former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee in a 2023 report said: 'It is not clear whether the Government fully appreciates the extent to which an unreformed courts system could undermine its tenancy reforms.' Furthermore, in a consultation in 2022, the then-government acknowledged that Section 21 was preferred by landlords to other means of eviction – such as Section 8 – as it was perceived as 'quicker and more certain'. Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society, said of the Renters' Rights Bill: 'The bill will not be effective without further investment in the justice system.' Mr Atkinson also urged the Government to 'provide greater funding and more clarity to the enforcement provisions so that justice is accessible to renters and landlords alike'. In addition to concerns about the justice system, a report has warned impacts of the bill will add almost £900 a year to the average tenancy. The legislation will limit landlords to just one rent increase per year capped at the 'market rate' – the price that would be achieved if the property was newly advertised to let. Landbay said property owners were planning to increase rent by an average of 6pc, which would add £74 to the average monthly rent, or £888 a year. Dr Neil Cobbold, director at property software company Reapit UKI, said: 'The Government's decision not to share the Renters' Rights Bill justice impact test raises serious questions about transparency and accountability. The estimate of changes in the number of court and tribunal cases is a vital tool for understanding how the legislation will affect the property sector – including case volumes – and whether the justice infrastructure is in place to support the change.' The Bill is currently going through the House of Lords before being sent back to the Commons and is expected to receive Royal Assent by summer 2025 and be implemented before the end of the year. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was approached for comment. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Labour urged to publish rent reforms impact report as eviction delays soar
Ministers are being urged to publish a report into the impact of rental reforms on the courts as landlords face eight-month delays to repossess their property. Government departments are required to complete a justice impact assessment for any new bills that are likely to impact the UK courts system. Labour's Renters' Reform Bill is set to become law this summer and will include the removal of Section 21 'no-fault evictions'. There are fears the change will force landlords to rely on the courts to regain possession of their properties, adding to existing backlogs. Private landlords faced an eight-month wait from making a claim to the courts to their properties being repossessed in the first four months of 2025, according to the latest government data. Chris Norris, chief policy officer for the National Residential Landlords Association, said: 'The justice system is simply not ready for the impact of the Bill. 'In the interests of transparency, the Government should publish the Justice Impact test. The Government also needs to come clean about how it defines the courts being ready for the reforms. Warm words are no substitute for clear objectives for the justice system.' Justice impact assessments are an internal process and not usually published by government departments, but previous ministers have committed to publishing court reviews ahead of implementing rental reforms. The former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee in a 2023 report said: 'It is not clear whether the Government fully appreciates the extent to which an unreformed courts system could undermine its tenancy reforms.' Furthermore, in a consultation in 2022, the then-government acknowledged that Section 21 was preferred by landlords to other means of eviction – such as Section 8 – as it was perceived as 'quicker and more certain'. Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society, said of the Renters' Rights Bill: 'The bill will not be effective without further investment in the justice system.' Mr Atkinson also urged the Government to 'provide greater funding and more clarity to the enforcement provisions so that justice is accessible to renters and landlords alike'. In addition to concerns about the justice system, a report has warned impacts of the bill will add almost £900 a year to the average tenancy. The legislation will limit landlords to just one rent increase per year capped at the 'market rate' – the price that would be achieved if the property was newly advertised to let. Landbay said property owners were planning to increase rent by an average of 6pc, which would add £74 to the average monthly rent, or £888 a year. Dr Neil Cobbold, director at property software company Reapit UKI, said: 'The Government's decision not to share the Renters' Rights Bill justice impact test raises serious questions about transparency and accountability. The estimate of changes in the number of court and tribunal cases is a vital tool for understanding how the legislation will affect the property sector – including case volumes – and whether the justice infrastructure is in place to support the change.' The Bill is currently going through the House of Lords before being sent back to the Commons and is expected to receive Royal Assent by summer 2025 and be implemented before the end of the year.
Business News Wales
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Neath Port Talbot Council Set to Host Landlord Support Event
Neath Port Talbot Council is set to host a free event for landlords who rent out properties within the county borough. The Landlord Support Event will take place at Neath Town Hall (1-2 Church Place, Neath, SA11 3LL) on Tuesday 13th May between 4pm and 7pm. Guest speakers from Rent Smart Wales, National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and Neath Port Talbot Council will be present to share their expertise. This will include guidance on handling common issues and Leasing Scheme Wales, a scheme offering guaranteed rent payments for five to 20 years. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with other landlords and speak directly with other support services. The itinerary for the event includes: · 4pm – 5pm: Informal drop-in session with the opportunity to speak to experts that can provide advice and guidance · 5pm – 6pm: Presentations from National Residential Landlords Association and Rent Smart Wales · 6pm – 7pm: Informal drop-in session with the opportunity to speak to experts that can provide advice and guidance The event is for established landlords who may have a portfolio of rental properties, newly established landlords and accidental landlords – someone who may have unexpectedly found themselves owning a home they are able to rent out. Cllr Alun Llewelyn, Neath Port Talbot Council's Cabinet Member for Housing & Community Safety, said: 'The Landlord Support Event is an opportunity for landlords to find out about how they can access essential information and resources that could be of real benefit to them. 'We know that private landlords play a fundamental role in the local housing sector and we are keen to work closely with them.' To secure your space at the event email Sarah Maybery-Thomas, .
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rayner's landlord crackdown risks costing property owners £18,000
Landlords across England and Wales risk incurring bills of up to £18,000 to upgrade their properties in the face of new energy efficiency standards championed by Angela Rayner. Property owners renting out homes will need to spend an average of £8,148 on improvements, according to an assessment of more than 31,000 properties by Knight Frank using CoreLogic data. In some cases, the bills will be far higher. Ms Rayner, the Housing Secretary, and Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, last week said that energy performance certificates (EPCs) for all privately rented homes should reach a minimum 'C' rating by 2030. It means millions of landlords will have to pay for costly upgrades such as extra insulation, or else face a ban on renting. Around 60pc of the 5m households in the private rented sector are rated EPC D or below. Researchers said the total bill for carrying out improvements could reach £21.6bn – a cost equal to more than five years' worth of annual rent. Private landlords with an EPC D rating would typically need to spend £5,841 on improving their homes to a C rating. The most inefficient properties, those with a rating below E, cannot be rented out. However, the cost of making these houses compliant with the new regulations will be even higher when the minimum EPC rating is increased. In the worst case, the research suggests that it would cost £18,174 to lift a G-rated property up to a C. The Government is consulting on the new rules. It is considering a £15,000 cap on costs for landlords, as well as a possible lower cap of £10,000 for properties charging lower rents or in lower council tax bands, which would limit the impact of the changes. The Government's boiler upgrade scheme also offers grants of up to £7,500 to help mitigate costs. The Government's own estimate of the average cost to landlords is between £6,100 and £6,800 by 2030. Gary Hall, the head of lettings at Knight Frank, said: 'Landlords are consistently tackling a series of evolving requirements from the Government. Many are not making a profit on their rental property, making it challenging to fund substantial improvements without clear guidance on implementation options and financial support. 'To make meaningful progress in improving energy efficiency, landlords need assurance from the Government that there will be grants available and a cap on the amount they will be required to spend. Introducing tax breaks for energy efficiency improvements would be a great way to support landlords and in turn, help the Government achieve its targets. 'Bringing homes up to a good EPC level is in everyone's best interests, but it can't be at the detriment of the number of available properties on the rental market, which is reducing yearly. We must encourage investment in this sector, not force landlords to sell due to further margin erosion.' Chris Norris, of the National Residential Landlords Association, warned that the Government's plans were impossible to deliver, estimating that 2,000 private rented properties will require improvement to meet the new benchmark every working day between July this year and December 2029. Mr Norris said: 'That is simply not feasible, not least given the shortage of tradespeople to carry out the work that many rental properties require. The sector needs 10 years if we are going to achieve the ambitions being consulted on.' He added that ministers need to avoid creating a north-south divide. He said a landlord in Burnley, where average house prices are just under £120,000, would have significantly less capital to invest in energy efficiency works than a landlord in Kensington and Chelsea, where average house prices exceed £1m. Mr Norris said: 'We all want rented homes to be as energy efficient as possible. However, that's not going to happen without a realistic plan to deliver on this objective. At present, there simply isn't one in place. 'Ministers need to develop a targeted financial package to support investment in the work required, as the Committee on Fuel Poverty and Citizens Advice has previously recommended. This could include using the tax system to encourage landlords to make energy efficiency improvements to their rental properties.' A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: 'We reject this analysis. Our own findings suggest an average cost to private landlords of around £6,500 per property. 'Everyone deserves to live in a warm, comfortable home and around half of private landlords are already ensuring this. 'We are consulting to make sure the views of renters, landlords and the retrofit industry inform our plans.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
