The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has defended the private rented sector after the Resolution Foundation’s latest analysis of housing trends in England claimed that the sector was not fit for purpose as private sector tenants are more likely to face insecurity as a result of short term tenancies.
Far from needing an overhaul as suggested by the Resolution Foundation’s, the RLA believes that the PRS provides a crucial service to a growing and varied demographic of tenants, as illustrated by the most recent English Housing Survey, which revealed that private sector tenants are spending an average of four years in their current property, up from 3.7 five years ago.
The survey also found that private sector tenants are generally more satisfied with their accommodation than those in the social rented sector.
If anything needs addressing as far as the PRS is concerned, it is the way in which buy-to-let landlords are taxed, according to the RLA.
The organisation is warning that recent changes by the government to the way the private rented sector is taxed is adding to the burden of rents on tenants highlighted by the Resolution Foundation’s report.
The government’s case that buy-to-let is reducing the supply of housing available to would-be owners is undermined by the Foundation which says that the sector has grown from 2.5% to 5% of all households over 10 years and has little impact on overall numbers.
“The evidence shows that tenants in the private rented sector are staying in their homes for longer. No landlord ever wants to lose a well behaved tenant who pays their rent on time,” said Alan Ward, chairman of the RLA.
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