Ahead of an announcement by Labour’s Shadow Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Secretary setting out the party’s plans to reform the private rented sector, the NRLA issued its response to the proposals.

According to initial reports in the UK media, Labour plans to end automatic repossessions for rent arrears. Likewise, they are expected to commit to the introduction of a four-month notice period for landlord reposessions and will consult on proposals to control rent increases in tenancies.

Responding to this news, Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association said:

“It is depressing that the Labour Party is once again demonising all landlords. The vast majority do a good job, providing a fifth of all housing in the country. That is why private tenants are more likely to be satisfied with their accommodation than those in the social rented sector.

“The combined effects of what Labour is proposing, in particular essentially making rent payments an optional extra, will seriously damage confidence and with it, the supply of homes to rent when demand is already high. Tenants will suffer in the long run.

“The reality is that promises of new social housing at some distant point in the future will do nothing to help renters struggling today.”