A council which operates what it describes as its own form of lettings agency admits that landlords are quitting the private rental sector.
And it claims its agency can help landlords squeezed further by the upcoming Renters Reform Bill legislation.
Ashford-based lettings agency ABC Lettings is operated by the local council, which is itself run by a minority coalition of independent and Green councillors.
It says that according to Government data, between October and December 2023, 5,400 households in the private rented sector in England qualified for council support to prevent homelessness after their landlord decided to sell the property.
Between April and June 2024, this rose to 7,130 households.
ABC Lettings say the figures show that selling a property is the single biggest reason for a landlord to end a tenancy, almost three times higher than the next most common reason.
“The shortage of quality homes for rent across Kent is acute – in Ashford there are 21 applicants chasing every rental property new to the market,” says Victoria Henham of ABC Lettings. “In the 20 years I have been involved in the industry, this is the toughest time for people to access housing in the private rental market.”
With the Renters Reform Bill due to become law this summer, it is forcing more landlords to consider selling up and leaving the market.
While the Bill will mean landlords cannot sell a property in the first 12 months of a tenancy, ABC Lettings argues more needs to be done to encourage responsible landlords to keep rental properties in the first place.
Henham adds: “Tenants need greater choice and that means supporting responsible landlords to stay and continue to provide decent quality housing. I know most landlords want to do their bit to help with the current homelessness crisis, in Ashford and elsewhere. Landlords need help now more than ever before and that’s where ABC Lettings come in.”
ABC Lettings claims that any landlord with a tenant-related problem – rent arrears, noise complaints or a relationship breakdown for example – it can provide a tailored solution to support the landlord in resolving the dispute and sustaining the tenancy.
And it says it’s working with a few landlords who – even in this tough market – are looking to increase their portfolio or seeking to enter the buy to rent market.
This article is taken from Landlord Today