The Government has been urged to get its housing policy “in order” following the resignations of both the Homelessness Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who also held the Housing Secretary brief, amid housing-related controversies.
Greg Tsuman, managing director for lettings at Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents, said the latest political upheaval highlight the urgent need for reform in the housing sector.
He said: “Now we’ve lost both the Homelessness Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary amid housing-related scandals, and the message couldn’t be clearer: the Government must get its housing policy in order – or risk running out of ministers to resign before they manage to fix the housing market.”
Tsuman criticised the narrative that places blame for the affordability crisis solely on landlords, arguing that political decisions and regulatory pressures are playing a major role in driving up rents.
“Rather than pushing simplistic narratives that demonise landlords for the affordability crisis in the private rented sector, politicians need to get their own house in order and acknowledge their role in creating the pressures driving up rents and reducing supply,” he added.
He also warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill, due for discussion in Parliament on Monday, risks backfiring if amendments from the House of Lords are rejected.
He said: “I think it’s likely that all the amendments made by the House of Lords to inject common sense into the Bill are rejected, leaving legislation that fails to empower tenants and instead forces landlords into defensive pricing, ultimately harming affordability and choice for everyone.”
Tsuman added that the political turmoil should not distract from the real issues facing the sector: “Let’s not be distracted by political reshuffles – the core issues remain unchanged. Legislative and tax pressures on landlords are rising, not easing, and these added costs inevitably make life harder for tenants. Every new expense in the system gets passed on as higher rents.”
Calling for more pragmatic reform, he concluded: “It’s contradictory to blame landlords while simultaneously implementing policies that push rents up.
“The solution is clear: streamline regulations, lower the tax burden, and promote stability so landlords can offer homes without constantly passing on increasing costs.
“To make renting fairer and more affordable, we need less political posturing and more practical, effective reform.”
