Painting of Houses Of Parliament and Big Ben

Categories: government and politics | prs

During the Tory conference, landlord representatives confronted Tory MPs at the Conservative Tenants and Landlords Forum

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of National Residential Landlords Association, was planning to meet MPs in order to establish and foster a mutually beneficial relationship. He said:

“I have to defend and champion the role of public retail sector (PRS) – to champion the idea of pro-growth, low tax policies to really open up the sector and see it as a force for good and to also give people the homes they so desperately need.”

According to Mr. Beadle, landlords are the only ones who are putting in the biggest effort to provide homes to people, but both leading political parties are “beating landlords over the head”.

He added:

“We need to end some of this rhetoric and that’s what I’m here to do.”

Anti-landlord views

Vanessa Warwick, Co-Founder of Property Tribes, drew specific reference to MPs Natalie Elphicke and James Cartlidge, who she feels heavily lean towards anti-landlord views.

Cartlidge, because he expressed that was one of the figureheads who proposed to develop an amendment, now known as Section 24 tax regime, which stopped landlords claiming as much tax relief on mortgage interest. He also stated he was involved in the increased stamp duty for second homeowners.

Both recommendations were adopted by the chancellor at the time – George Osborne.

Warwick added:

“Cartlidge clearly didn’t understand that there is a massive shortage of landlords. He wanted the private rented sector to shrink.”

Cartlidge briefly talked about plans to increase social housing, however, due to an underwhelming plan of action, NRLA representative Ben Beadle insisted on being given the details on how the government will approach the current situation in the short-term.

Beadles states:

“This government wants to turn Generation Rent into Generation Buy, but they have no idea of how to achieve that.”

Then Warwick went on to add that there is a significant lack of synergy between the local and central governments – Whitehall attempting to deter the investors, whilst local authorities are desperately trying attract landlords, offering them ‘golden hellos’.


Radical scheme targeted at landlords - the golden hellos

Stafford Borough Council has greenlit a new scheme that would utilise a government backed tenancy deposit to help tenants secure rental properties, allocating £30,000 for the initial year to help 30 tenants.

The scheme will allow councils to pay cash deposits to landlords, in order to substantially reduce the long housing waiting lists.

It has been recognised by the Borough that its deposit guarantee scheme does not help people on low incomes, who are seeking to rent residential properties, due to the fact that there is no safety net for landlords in case of rent arrears.

What will be the outcome for landlords?

With clear evidence of significant strain within the rental sector, landlords have to hope that the Tories will see that their arguments are listened to.

We will continue to monitor any change coming from the government.