Private landlords are calling on the government to establish a new landlord and tenant conciliation service as part of its planned changes to the private rented sector.
The call, being made by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), comes as it publishes its proposals for the Renters’ Reform Bill.
With the government committed to abolishing section 21, or ‘no fault’ evictions, the NRLA is calling for reforms to the rights of repossession that are fair to both tenants and landlords.
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The plans outline clear and comprehensive grounds upon which landlords should be able to regain possession of their properties.
This includes cases of tenant rent arrears, anti-social behaviour and situations where landlords want to sell a property.
Where possession notices are challenged, the NRLA is calling for the creation of a new, publicly funded conciliation service, similar to the employment dispute body, ACAS.
This, the NRLA argue, would seek to resolve disagreements between landlords and tenants without the stress and costs associated with going to court.
Whilst more serious cases, such as those related to criminal activity by a tenant, would need to go straight to court, most could be considered by the conciliation service.
The NRLA say this would help the tenant and landlord to reach an agreement to keep the tenancy going or bring the tenancy to an end in a way that works for both parties.
Both tenants and landlords would be able to access the advice and support they needed to make their case.
Where landlords failed to abide by the terms of the agreement they would be banned from being able to repossess the property using the same ground for six months.
Where renters did so, the case would be fast tracked through the courts.
With possession cases taking many months to be considered and ruled on by the courts, the proposals announced today aim to reduce the workload on them ensuring they can more quickly consider and act upon cases that do come before them.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “As the government prepares this important bill, it needs to enjoy the full confidence of both landlords and tenants.
“Our proposals are for a fundamental reform of re-possession rights which strike the balance between the needs of both.
“The over-riding aim is to sustain tenancies wherever possible or bring them to an end in a collaborative way.
“We hope that ministers will accept our proposals and act on them soon.”
The NRLA is today hosting a webinar on its proposals.
The speakers will be the Chair of the Housing Select Committee Clive Betts MP, Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake, the chief executive of Crisis Jon Sparkes and Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA.