Mumbling - Ed Miliband promised a crackdown on rogue landlords cashing in on the housing shortage during his first major speech of 2013.Made at the Fabian Society the Labour Leader mumbled on, saying - 'We would introduce a national register of landlords and greater powers for local authorities to root out and strike off the rogues. We would end the confusing, inconsistent and opaque fees and charges regime, making fees easily understandable, upfront and comparable. And we will seek to remove the barriers that stand in the way of longer-term tenancies.'
He addressed the issues of housing shortages, saying that 3.6 million households are now in privately rented accommodation.
Mumbling on with 'We cannot have two nations divided between those who own their own homes and those who rent,' ( I'm not quite sure why - surely this is how it's always been - you can't expect everyone to own - can you?'
More mumbling - 'Most people who rent have responsible landlords and rental agencies. ( good - that's right, but like all industries and organisations theres are a few bad apples) But there are too many rogue landlords and agencies either providing accommodation which is unfit or ripping off their tenants ( hold on - calm down )
'And too many families face the doubt of a two-month notice period before being evicted.' - (sounds as if he could be pushing for changes in tenancy law - he's lost my vote )
'Imagine being a parent with kids settled in a local school and your family settled in your home for two, three, four years facing that sort of uncertainty.'
'We would introduce a national register of landlords and greater powers for local authorities to root out and strike off the rogues.' ( why not just ban individuals who break current legislation - giving every landlord a membership badge isn't going to change a thing )
'We would end the confusing, inconsistent and opaque fees and charges regime, making fees easily understandable, upfront and comparable. And we will seek to remove the barriers that stand in the way of longer-term tenancies.'
He also mumbled on about - (and I do paraphrase here, but so much that comes out of his mouth is pointless waffle) - that the last Labour Government did a pretty bad job, but him and Balls would make a far better fist of it - honest.
He did fall short of re-branding the party New - New - Labour.
May I suggest something more catchy like 'Two Eds'
Landlord Insurance - professional rates
Revenue raising hidden behind the camouflage of tenant protection... I'm sure this "New register" will have an annual fee attached to it!?!
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the sort of thinking, Mr Milliband, that creates a rental underclass, unable to obtain affordable
ReplyDeleteprivate rented accom. along with long term unemployed on LHA.
I for one will not let properties at all if there is any risk. This is precisely as a result of legislation. DHS tenants, anyone without at least 6 months worth of rent in their bank account or a tenant with even the vaguest question about their previous attitude towards their contractual obligations. I also demand a two month deposit.
I keep nice properties, and tenants who can afford to pay for the impact of government legislation are welcome to stay.
Want a stagnant rental market and inability to find accommodation where and when you need it, then go along with Mr Milliband.
Mr Milliband pities tenants who cannot stay interminably. Mr Milliband must surely realise that the only time landlords generally give notice to tenants is where the tenants are causing damage or are in default - not paying rent, or are basically stealing.
Good tenants suffer, as well as those who want good short term accommodation (e.g for 3 months). As a result of legislation, someone wanting to rent for three months to do a job, has no option other than to stay in a B&B.
Everyone suffers from the legislation except tenants who are thieves.
Decent people pay higher rents and cannot find flexible accommodation. Even with the current level of control over the extent to which normal people can contract with each other, I would estimate that at least £100 per month of any rent goes towards protection recovery of costs and losses due to legislation, and legalised theft by rogue tenants.
Another example of the harm caused by pontificating labour politicians to normal average people.
This isn't "a crackdown on rogue landlords". It's simply execising control over, and demanding yet more money from, the responsible landlords and rental agencies that he accepts are the majority.
ReplyDeleteLabour just can't get away from the sterotypical Rachman landlord that thrived in the pre-AST days to which Miliband wishes to return.