The Shadow Housing Secretary, John Healey, says Labour will control rents, end no-fault evictions and put a stop to the tyranny of rogue landlords “should the party come into power following the next election.”  Mr Healey made the statement in a speech to the Labour Party Conference last week, pledging the party would fund renters unions to ‘support and defend’ tenants.

He told delegates in Liverpool that in the first year of a Labour government, Ministers would legislate for new renters rights to control costs, improve conditions and increase security.   He said “We know that our rights are worthless when we can’t enforce them, in the workplace or in the housing market.  So I can announce today, that the next Labour Government will back new unions for renters, and fund them in every part of the country – so renters who feel helpless in the face of this housing crisis can organise and defend their rights.”

In response to this speech the RLA has stressed that the vast majority of tenants are happy with their accommodation and that landlords use Section 21 to regain possession due to a court system which is not fit for purpose.  The English Housing Survey report on the Private Rented Sector for 2016/17 shows that over the last three years, 90% of private sector tenancies were ended by the tenant.  David Smith, RLA Policy Director, said: “Many landlords resort to Section 21 notices because the alternative procedures take too long to process through the courts. To address this, the RLA is calling for a new housing court to bring justice more quickly for both landlords and tenants. A root and branch review is needed of the current system which, in the worst cases, takes up to 30 weeks and any changes must support the provision of homes to rent which the country needs.  The vast majority of tenants enjoy good relations with their landlords. In the minority of cases where things go wrong however, landlords need the confidence that they can regain possession of a property swiftly when faced with tenants not paying their rent or committing anti-social behaviour.”