Residential Landlords Association Criticises MP’s Bill

The Tenancies (Reform) Bill introduced by Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central, is expected to have its second reading debate in the House of Commons on 28 November. The bill claims to protect tenants against retaliatory evictions.

With this looming on the horizon, the RLA have reiterated their belief that no evidence exists to back up the claim that large numbers of tenants are the victims of landlords evicting them from their properties without a good reason. But they also say that the Bill would be damaging to the private rented sector, as the confidence of investors could be shaken at a time when investment is needed.

An RLA survey of 1,760 landlords showed that the vast majority of landlords do not evict unless they have to. Of the landlords who had regained possession of a property, 90% did so because of rent arrears; 43% was as a result of tenant anti-social behaviour; 40% was due to tenants causing damage to the property; and 20% was for tenant drug-related activity.

The RLA says that removing landlords’ freedom to evict troublesome tenants ‘would be a charter for anti-social tenants.’ They suggest that a better solution would be to extend consumer rights regulations and improve tenants’ understanding of their existing rights.

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