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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

BTL landlords are providing private tenants with long-term security

Whether a matter of choice or necessity, most private renters need long-term security and the vast majority of private landlords are more than willing to meet their needs, new research shows. 

Long-term renting is the norm in most European countries, where the law tends to favour tenants, and it would appear that lengthier tenancies are an emerging trend in the UK, suggesting that there is not a need for similar rental regulations in this country as landlords naturally look to safeguard their income.

According to the government’s English Housing Survey for 2018-19, published yesterday, the average length that a private tenant lived in their current rental property was 4.4 years, up from 4.1 years in 2017-18.

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The data shows that private renters are enjoying greater security in their homes than at any time over the last decade, which is an indication that the market is responding by ensuring tenants remain in properties for longer periods of time, enabling them establish roots in a community.

John Stewart, policy manager for the Residential Landlords Association, commented: “The vast majority of landlords who do a good job welcome good tenants staying in their properties long-term and today’s figures bear this out. 

“They clearly refute the picture some create that landlords spend all their time looking for ways to evict their tenants and it is time to end this scaremongering.

“The market is meeting the ever-changing demands on it without the need for legislation. 

“It is vital that the government continues to support and encourage this with pro-growth policies that support good landlords to provide the long-term homes to rent to meet ever growing demand.”  

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Poll: Do you think the private rented sector is meeting the ever-changing demands on it without the need for fresh legislation?

PLACE YOUR VOTE BELOW

  • Fed Up Landlord

    Unfortunately Section 24 Finance Act and the abolition of Section 21 is going to reduce security of tenure for tenants as landlords sell. Disjointed, tenant virtue signalling by an uninformed government.

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    I have always had long term Tenants on Assured Short-hold Tenancies but now they are taken that option away. I am no longer interested go to Hell do what ever you want as you always do keep the scroungers. I been to several LL /Council meetings and they want to keep driving home how important the Private Rental is. How can they get away with that while doing everything in their power to destroy us and LL's just sit there like lemons and say nothing with their mouth open but nothing coming out.

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    • 24 January 2020 10:39 AM

    I've always found that all my tenants could have long term tenancies.
    Unfortunately 5 of them refused to pay rent so had to be evicted which of course was their fault.
    All my other tenants have eventually vacated because they wanted to.
    Only two vacated because of rent increases.
    Never had an AST any longer than 6 months.
    They all proceeded onto a SPT.
    All my rent paying tenants could still be with me had they wanted.
    Unfortunately for my existing occupants S24 etc will be causing me to sell up.
    Then no tenure security at all!!!
    Govt by introducing all its bonkers anti- PRS policies is destroying tenure security very effectively as LL react by selling up or not letting on AST.
    Once lenders realise how risky being a LL is when S21 is abolished I'm sure many will withdraw from the BTL market.
    Or perhaps they will insist on all tenants qualifying for RGI so at least they know the mortgage will be paid if an eviction is required which could take over a year!
    Lenders won't want to lend to LL who default on mortgage payments because of dud tenants who can't qualify for RGI.
    LL who wish to risk letting to tenants without RGI will pay higher lender IR.
    That is the way I see many BTL lenders going.

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    Why wouldn’t we want long term tenants? Good people are always welcome to stay as long as they want. Does the government think with the cost of tenant changes that we look to move people on through boredom.

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    Regarding Tenancies since 1988 (before that it was different) I have let initially on 6 months or one year Assured Short-hold Tenancies, subsequently I might have renewed on going with more Assured Shorthold Tenancies Agreements in a similar manner or let them become Statutory Periodic Tenancies which meant they continued on the same bases and conditions as original Contract. However, regardless of the above any Tenancy starting after 28th February 1997 automatically became an Assured Shorthold Tenancy whether you had it signed up or not unless it fell with-in paragraph in Schedule 2A of 1988 Housing Act.

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    Long term tenants, I have many, they all started off on 6 month AST and then became SPT, no new tenant will ever be offered anything longer than 6 months we just don't know what we are getting with a new tenant do we.

    Daniela Provvedi

    Hi Andrew, you're right.
    But please correct me if I'm wrong, without Section 21, whether we sign up with a 6 month AST or a 12 month AST, we still not able to get them out if we have to?

     
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