Newly-installed PRS housing minister Felicity Buchan has told a meeting of landlords that her Government would never bring in rent controls.
Her comments came during the NRLA’s annual conference in Coventry during which she also committed to ‘stick around’ and made several comical allusions to the short tenures of previous housing ministers.
Buchan also said the Government accepted the NRLA’s proposal to tackle anti-social behaviour by tenants.
This includes convening a meeting of key stakeholders representing landlords, tenants, the police, local authorities and others to develop plans to ensure swift and effective action can be taken against tenants who behave badly.
But the Minister confirmed that Section 21 would be going and counselled the sector to get ready for the eventuality, outlined the Government’s commitment to ensure its plans to reform the private rented sector work for responsible landlords as well as tenants and said she understood concerns about the impact its plans could have on the student housing market.
Likewise, she made clear the importance of the court system working “properly and efficiently” when Section 21 is abolished.
Confidence
Ben Beadle (pictured), Chief Executive of the NRLA, says: “We welcome the Minister’s comments and agree that the Government’s rental reform plans need to enjoy the confidence of both responsible landlords and tenants.
“The NRLA has made clear that more needs to be done to ensure the behaviour of anti-social tenants can be tackled effectively when Section 21 goes.
“We therefore welcome the Minister’s acceptance of our proposal for a roundtable on the issue.
“It is vital that all key stakeholders representing landlords, tenants, the police and others can develop clear and workable plans to ensure neighbours and fellow tenants alike are not left at the mercy of nightmare tenants.”
Pic credit: NRLA
Read more: What will happen after section 21 goes?