Ed Miliband has today announced Labour’s plan to help working people who rent privately.Generation Rent are the young, families with children, low earners and middle income earners who being are priced out of the housing market. Labour will build the homes, which local people want to buy. But we will never turn our backs on Generation Rent. And we want to encourage all those responsible landlords who provide decent homes for people and stable income for themselves.
Cllr Mick Lerry said: “Too many people are struggling to meet the costs of putting a roof over their head. Some are saving for a deposit year after year; decade after decade, while the dream of owning their own home seems further and further away. Others are having to move all the time, ripping up the roots they have laid down at work or with friends, even having to change their kids’ schools”.
“Labour has a better plan. The security of three year tenancies for all who want them with rents capped, so they can fall but not rise by more than inflation. The rights they need to negotiate a decent deal with landlords and stop rip-off letting fees. And the protection for taxpayers and tenants against bad landlords who are being subsidised for providing accommodation that fails to meet basic standards”, says Mick
Plan for a stable private rental market.
This is a plan for a stable, decent, prosperous private rental market where landlords and tenants can succeed together.
The next Labour government will introduce legislation in its first Queen’s speech to:
• Cap rents so they cannot rise by more than the rate of inflation (CPI) during secure three-year tenancies.
• Require landlords and letting agents to disclose the rent levels charged to previous tenants so that householders can negotiate the best possible deal at the start of their contract.
• Penalise rogue landlords by reducing buy-to-let tax relief for those who own hundreds of thousands of properties, which do not meet basic standards.
These new announcements follow previous measures, which Labour has already set out to help people who rent including a plan for:
• Secure three-year tenancies for all people who want them so landlords will no longer be able to terminate rental agreements simply to put rents up.
• A ban on letting agent fees charged to tenants, saving the average household £625 over the next parliament.
• A national register of landlords which will enable rogue landlords to be identified and judge whether they properly meet basic standards.
Cllr Mick Lerry – Leader of the Labour Group on SDC
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset
Mobil: 07775905080
Email: michael.lerry@btinternet.com
Mick Lerry replies;-
Dear Alan
Could I just say that when the Labour party is talking about 3 Year Tenancy agreements, we are not supporting tenants who are in breach of their tenancy agreement, for example not paying rent, anti social behaviour or damaging property. If the tenant is in breach of the tenancy agreement then they can be served notice to terminate the tenancy. Therefore good landlords like yourself will be protected. What Labour is saying that 3 year tenancies will be introduced to safeguard those tenants who are asked to move after a short tenancy for no reason other than the landlord wishes to increase the rent. At the same time Labour wishes to introduce rent control of inflationary increases only for 3 years, to avoid the position whereby tenants are forced to move, because of the sudden increase in rent.
In Bridgwater, due to the possible major development at Hinkley Point, we are aware of the problem that many local tenants could be displaced by their landlord, due to the fact that there are workers moving into the area who would pay higher rents.
Can I assure you that Labour’s policy is not going to target all private landlords, good landlord like yourself, will still have the protection within the tenancy agreement.
After the election I would welcome a discussion with you, regarding this matter and your views as a private landlord.
Many thanks for contacting me about this matter.
Best wishes
Mick
I fully support rent caps but what will happen at the end of the proposed 3-year period? I suspect that many, if not most, landlords will simply hike rents to make up for “losses” over the previous 3 years. There has to be future provision for fair rent after that time. I also feel that too much financial aid is given to many people who buy to rent and just look at it as a nice little earner at the expense of others’ misery. Whatever happened to the ethos that a home is a social concept and not one simply for others to cash in on?
Hello Mick – I have just read your article which in my opinion has not been properly thought through – I am a local Landlord and was a big supporter of the Tony Blair Labour Government and lived all my life in Sedgemoor. I pride myself as being a very professional and fair Landlord with a good reputation but I am very concerned about the proposals regarding a minimum of 3 year tenancies as in my opinion this is a very bad move. Whilst it may help tenants with bad landlords it will not help good landlords trying to offer a decent home to good tenants. When I let a property I want good long term tenants and providing they prove to be good tenants I do not want them to leave but occasionally I find that a new tenant proves to be a bad tenant and will make life unpleasant for neighbours and the Landlord – As the rules stand at the moment I can say to that person either behave otherwise you will have to leave the property but once they are entitled to minimum of 3 years there will be nothing I can do and life can be made miserable for all those who live close by. This policy seems to have been proposed purely considering Bad landlords and no thought has been given to how this will affect a good landlord trying to offer a good quality service to good tenants. Just ask yourself why would a Landlord want to get rid of a good tenant paying a fair rent – I am quite happy to restrict rent rises but minimum 3 year tenancies would be a mistake it will not help good tenants in the majority of cases – I would welcome the opportunity to show you and any other member of the Labour Group the other side of the argument. Incidentally I do not charge any letting fees very rarely any deposit and rents are in line with local reference rent levels. I have decided that because of this single policy that I will need to vote Conservative at the next election for the first time in my life and I am aged 65 – I would welcome your reply Thank You