Landlords Reject Revenge Evictions Legislation

The government recently announced the introduction of measures that tackle so-called ‘revenge evictions.’ The move, it is claimed, will give tenants greater protection from rogue landlords. The coalition published amendments to the Deregulation Bill, extending the existing restrictions on a landlord’s power to evict.

However, both the National Landlords Association (NLA) and the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) have fiercely denounced the proposals. They both agree that tenants need protection, but that this protection already exists. Instead of introducing more restrictive legislation, the government should focus on properly enforcing the legislation we already have.

The NLA say the move is “politically timed,” with politicians more interested in point scoring and vote grabbing than genuinely helping tenants, because there isn’t “any credible evidence” to justify new legislation.

The RLA blasted the plans for impeding the development of the “only part of the housing market that is growing.” The private rented sector needs to attract further investment in order to meet ever-growing demand, but investors might not be as keen on buy-to-let if presented with more administrative burdens.

Improving the tenants’ understanding of their rights and responsibilities makes more sense for the general well-being of the private rented sector than the introduction of what the RLA have branded a “charter for anti-social tenants.”

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