September was party conference month in the UK. First it was the Labour Party conference and according to the Residential Landlords Association, their policies look certain to damage the private rental sector if Labour is elected back into power in the General Election next year.
Labour wants to introduce a national register for private landlords, even though such a scheme has been described as onerous and costly. Labour also wants to introduce rent controls; critics say this will almost certainly undermine investment in the private rental sector, just as it did the last time rent controls were introduced. Labour is also planning on legislating against so-called ‘revenge evictions, which would cost a fortune and is already illegal according to the Competition and Markets Authority.
RLA Comments
Alan Ward, chairman of the Residential landlords association, had this to say:
“Sadly Labour just does not get it on rented housing. Rather than supporting the sector to meet the ever growing demands being placed on it, Shadow Ministers are looking to make cheap political points by reaching for populist regulations without thinking through their consequences.”
Chancellor Announces Working Age Benefits Freeze
Then it was the turn of the Conservative Party to hold their conference and George Osborne announced that the Tories will freeze benefits to those of work age if they are re-elected. Since this tactic will put an even tighter squeeze on low-income families, many of whom are living in private rental housing, one of the unwanted side effects is that landlords are likely to be affected, too.
