A leading politician is calling for a rethink of the six month possession period which has been imposed in Wales.
Mark Isherwood, the Conservatives’ shadow housing minister in Wales, says the Welsh Government should reconsider the extension of the notice period.
He has told the National Residential Landlords Association that a balance needs to be struck between the rights of tenants in privately-rented accommodation, and the rights of landlords and owners of the properties.
“Landlords – as well as tenants – have needs, and their voices and views must be heard to ensure the implementation of policy that is fair for all” says Isherwood, who also warns there could be“serious repercussions for the sector” if the hardest hit landlords quit.
The decision to extend possession notice periods does not include possession claims which cite anti-social behaviour, and was made under the Coronavirus Act 2020’s emergency powers.
It was announced on July 23 with only a few hours notice before it came into effect, prompting Isherwood to say: “There appears to be a lack of consultation with stakeholders, as well a failure to investigate the possible effects of the move, a view echoed by the Legislation, Justice, and Constitution Committee in the Welsh Parliament.”
The NRLA is calling for the Welsh Government to reconsider its decision, and to also develop a financial package to support landlords and tenants by offering interest free loans to allow tenants to cover their rent.
Here you can see an open letter sent by the association to the Welsh Government on the issue.
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Wow a politician going against the tenant vote did I read that right
Seems like an April Fool's wind up doesn't it?
Only one yet with some common sense
Not that I'm going to but if I was there is no way I would invest in Wales while this ridiculous 6 month notice regulation remains.
If Welsh LL don't wish to be bankrupted they are going have to use a lot more of any available resources to pay for feckless tenants' free accommodation.
Glad I'm not a Welsh or Scottish LL
Gosh, it must be a completely new and very difficult way of thinking to realise that, yes,
"Landlords – as well as tenants – have needs, and their voices and views must be heard to ensure the implementation of policy that is fair for all".
Don't know if anyone else reading this can also remember back to the mid-1960s and before, but a common expression to express incredulity used to be "Yes, and one day a man will land on the moon" which, like respecting landlord's rights, seemed to be an utterly absurd idea completely beyond comprehension.
LL will NEVER have fair policies implemented for them.
Govt wishes to remove any rights remaining for LL.
Govt has NO intention of being fair towards LL
Don't forget that when the Renting Homes Wales 2016 Act is enforced in the Spring the new version of Section 21 WILL be 6 Months anyway!
Didn't realise that!!
For me that now makes Wales and Scotland a no go zone for future LL investment.
In case the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies DON'T realise LL invest based on the ability to recover their property in the event of rent default.
One year before a LL can start the S21 process means it is no longer viable to be a Welsh LL unless you like lots of risk and can afford to subsidise feckless rent defaulting tenants for years.
To me the business proposition is no longer viable.
Most people don't realise that next year in Wales the Housing Act 1988 will be no more! It's being replaced by the Renting Homes Wales Act and hence there will be no more Assured Shorthold Tenancies .... there will be Occupation Contracts.
Yep the nutty Scottish PRT and now an equally dopey Welsh revision means just England retains some normality.
If England introduces a similar AST amendment then that is game over for the PRS.
No way will I remain invested unless I can evict relatively easily for rent defaulting.
The long term letting business model won't be viable.
LL would be better off reducing to 2 or 3 residential properties and take in lodgers.
Stay in the home for 1 day a month and that means occupants will always be lodgers.
It also means no families may be lodgers as more than 4 occupants will require compliance with Mandatory HMO licencing which few 5 bed properties could achieve.
It certainly adds a lot more complexity than most landlords and many agents will be happy with. The playing field will have changed in Wales, there is a way of turning to advantage but most people do not want to put in the necessary work and may turn to other forms of investment. Rents may rise but Government will turn to Rent Controls.
Ahh!!
The nuclear option
Rent Controls = MAD!!
Few good LL would bother remaining LL with Rent Controls especially mortgaged ones.
It seems the PRS is to return to the 60 and 70's when the PRS was only about 7% and most of the tenants were sitting tenants.
The quickest way to produce mass homelessness is rent controls.
Thank God I hope to be out of the PRS before rent controls occur.
With Every piece of regulation or intervention, less and less rented properties are becoming available, AND, of those that are- Landlords in Wales are going to be ' hyper-cautious ' over which tenants they let to.
Effectively, the riskier element ( call it No DSS, even under another guise ) will flourish, placing higher burdens on the Local Govt.
So be it, when the Assembly realise what they're doing is Hurting Tenants not helping them, and creating an impossible situation for L.A's - they might smell the coffee ?
It is a huge worry in Wales. I remember pre 1988 and as you say, no PRS to talk about at the time.
Of course back then there was a large social housing sector and of course there was NO
MASS UNCONTROLLED IMMIGRATION.
High time Shelter and similar others offered interest free loans to allow tenants to cover their rent.
Not the best joke I've heard today, Philip.
That would mean Shelter would take the hit for rent arrears rather than LL.
No tenant would repay a Shelter loan!
They would have to undertake the same dysfunctional Civil Recovery process that LL have to use.
LL for obvious reasons don't bother with attempting Civil Recovery.
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