Ben Beadle, CEO of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), called for a minimum six-month transition for tenancy reform at a roundtable with Housing Secretary Steve Reed.
Beadle said six months is the shortest time landlords will need as the Government has not yet provided the wording for key documents.
Reed was joined by Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook and a select group of representatives for talks on the new Renters’ Rights Act.
Beadle said: “This was a very constructive meeting with a select group of stakeholders. We now need to provide solid evidence as to why a minimum of six months is vital to allow landlords to prepare.
“The clock is already ticking, even though, as yet, we have no information as to which elements of the Act will be introduced first.
“We will then face another wait for the secondary legislation needed to confirm the wording of new tenancy agreements and other documents landlords will need.”
Beadle added: “After that we will need time to draw up these documents and have them checked by experts to ensure they are legally sound.
“All this takes time, and with the Christmas break happening slap bang in the middle of it all, it is clear it will be only too easy for the weeks to slip by.
“This legislation has been years in the making, so there is no benefit to rushing the final stages.”
He said: “The Government needs to ensure everything is in place to support landlords to get it right first time.”
Beadle has written to the Secretary of State and Housing Minister to make the case for a six-month period from the publication of regulations.
The letter sets out this is the minimum needed for landlords to tell more than 11 million tenants in England about changes, for landlords, agents and legal professionals to get training, for the updated Housing Health and Safety Rating System to be published, for solicitors to understand new possession rules, for court procedures to adapt, for letting agents to update systems, for councils to bring in staff, and for the Property Tribunal to get ready for more rent appeals.
The letter also makes recommendations for student tenancies.
Beadle will appear before the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Select Committee to give evidence on housing standards.
He said robust enforcement is needed or rogue landlords will keep operating.
He is also calling for clear guidance for landlords and more training for tradespeople.
Beadle will also push for the freeze on Local Housing Allowance rates to be reversed to help people on lower incomes find rental homes.
