The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Private Rented Sector has issued a warning that the Government’s reforms to the private rented sector, as outlined in the Renters (Reform) Bill, risk failure without adequate resources for enforcement.
This sentiment has been echoed by various sector leaders, emphasising the need to address the issue of rogue and criminal landlords.
Key measures proposed in the Bill include the introduction of a new decent homes standard for the private rented sector, the creation of a new Property Portal for rental housing, and the termination of section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.
However, a common theme in the feedback from sector contributors is the necessity of effective enforcement against unlawful landlord practices.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, stressed the importance of supporting local authorities in tackling criminal behaviour.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, also emphasised the need for prioritising the enforcement of regulations. The Centre for Social Justice has similarly called for investment in enforcement capacity.
Concerns have been raised by the cross-party group of MPs and peers that local authorities may struggle to enforce these changes without a significant increase in resources. This follows a caution from the Local Government Association about the financial strain on local authorities.
The Chartered Institute for Environmental Health highlighted to the Renters (Reform) Public Bill Committee the insufficient number of environmental health officers (EHOs) to address tenant complaints, citing data on the low ratio of EHOs to private rented homes.
Furthermore, the APPG expressed concerns about renters and responsible landlords defending their rights in court once section 21 evictions are abolished. The Law Society has noted the current strain on the court system, which could worsen with an increase in contested possession hearings.
A worrying statistic reveals that 42% of people in England and Wales lack access to a legal aid provider with expertise in housing law in their area. The President of the Law Society warned that the Bill’s reforms would be futile without more investment in legal aid.
Andrew Lewer MBE MP, chair of the APPG for the Private Rented Sector, stated: “It is vital that the Bill provides security to tenants, gives confidence to responsible landlords and roots out rogue and criminal landlords providing sub-standard housing.
“However, none of this will be possible without robust enforcement of the powers being proposed.
“The Government needs to provide substantial multi-year funding to ensure councils have the resources they need to enforce the planned decent homes standard and ensure all rented homes are safe and secure.
“Likewise, tenants and landlords need to be confident that they will be able to enforce their rights in court in a timely and effective way when section 21 ends.
“It is simply unacceptable that ministers have provided scant detail about what improvements to the justice system will look like and when they will happen.”
