Private rented sector
Reforms take shape
Rosemary Herbert and Sharron Tennant of Howard
Kennedy Solicitors track the reform process to date
overnment concern about growing but problems remain relating to investment should be more readily
G
private rented housing was quality of accommodation, management forthcoming if good quality agencies
given legislative expression standards and security of tenure. In were available to manage properties.
in the Housing Act 2004. October 2008 Julie Rugg and David Rhodes
•
Changes to the tax regime should
Local authorities now have of York University Centre for Housing encourage landlords to view their letting
increased powers to deal Policy presented a report to the activity as a business rather than an
with Houses in Multiple Occupation and Department of Communities and Local investment. Buy-to-let mortgages should
the selective licensing scheme enables local Government (DCLG); The Private Rented only be available subject to a business
authorities to tackle sub standard Sector: Its Contribution And Potential. plan. Lenders should be encouraged to
properties and anti-social tenants. Also all The Rugg Report outlined six policy allow tenants protection if a landlord
deposits taken by agents and landlords of “directions of travel”. defaults on mortgage payments. Stamp
assured shorthold tenancies have to be Duty Land Tax relief should be available so
protected by an authorised deposit
•
Government and local authorities lack that the highest rate is not automatically
protection scheme. a proper understanding of how the applied to larger acquisitions if properties
Reform in this area is unlikely to end private rented sector works. Policy has bought include lower value units.
there, however. The private rented sector is been based on biased evidence from
•
A real choice between a social or a
lobby groups for both landlords’ and private let should be available to low
JULIE RUGG tenants’ respective interests. A review of income families. Social letting agencies
YORK UNIVERSITY governmental information should be should deal with all private renting
CENTRE FOR undertaken with more pertinent procurement required by statutory
HOUSING POLICY questioning of landlords and tenants. agencies, such as the UK Border Agency,
•
Managing agents should be subject to charging a standard management fee
mandatory regulation. Registered social and reducing the housing benefi t related
landlords should be encouraged to sell incentives on offer to landlords.
their rental management skills to private
•
A licence would be required by all
landlords and investors. Institutional landlords in this sector but would be
46 JUNE 2009 PROPERTYdrum
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