What does a Labour Government mean for Private Landlords?

We are entering a transformative period in housing law and policy under a Labour Government who have a series of ambitious plans aimed at addressing the chronic housing shortage. These include reinstating compulsory housebuilding targets to ensure construction of 1.5 million homes within the next 5 years, overhauling the planning system to make it easier to build houses on less desirable parts of the green belt and removing barriers that have slowed down development. They also plan to set up a team of experts to accelerate stalled housing sites in areas like Liverpool, Worcestershire and Sutton Coldfield.

More homes being built can only be good news for private landlords, and it may also have been a relief to many that the Renters Reform Bill did not come to fruition before the election was called. However, the final draft of the bill did not include the removal of the s21 ‘no fault’ possession process and this was welcomed by many private landlords, despite the difficulties unsuspecting landlords can find with this procedure.

The question now is whether Labour will look to pass the Renters Reform Bill in its current or further amended form or look instead to instate their Renters Charter which would include a commitment to end s21 ‘no fault’ evictions, the introduction of a 4 month notice period, ending mandatory Ground 8 possession for rent arrears and removing rent review clauses in tenancy agreements.

It is hard to imagine that any of these proposals will be welcomed by private landlords, who can already find it difficult, time consuming and costly to recover their properties from tenants.

As such one would hope that Labour will still include some of the measures introduced by the Renters Reform Bill that made it easier for landlords, such as mandatory possession if they need to sell or live in the property themselves. It also remains vital for landlords to be able to quickly recover their properties from those tenants repeatedly failing to pay their rent, breaking other terms of their tenancy or committing anti-social or criminal behaviour.

Only time will tell what a Labour government will really mean for private landlords but for anyone needing assistance MBH Solicitors are here to help.

If you need help however in ending a tenancy or stopping an eviction, at MBH Solicitors we are able to assist. Please get in touch and speak with one of our lawyers now on 01942 206060 or by e-mail to mbh@wigansolicitors.com