Reform UK has pledged to scrap the Renters Rights Act if it wins the next General Election.
Party deputy leader and its new business, trade, and energy spokesperson – Richard Tice – says it is an example of – “well-intentioned legislation that is having the opposite effect”.
He told a press conference: “There’s a balance of risk and reward – too many [landlords] are saying ‘enough is enough’. The Act is well-intentioned around period of notice to quit but it’s gone way beyond this.
“If you take it too far it will have the opposite effect. Property numbers are reducing – if you reduce supply, the prices go up.”
Tice adds: “Let’s have a Great Repeal Bill that ditches daft regulations: scrap net zero, scrap Zev mandates, scrap new employment rights rules, scrap new property rental rules – all well intentioned but kill jobs, hinder growth, investment and prosperity.
“This will all help lower inflation and bring down bills for consumers.”
Reform UK leader. Nigel Farage has claimed that in his constituency of Claxton the private rental stock has falling by 60% since 2020.
And he says: “The percentage of people’s income being spent on rent – it’s a disaster – we need more supply of property to rent.
“There’s a chronic problem with social housing and a profound sense of unfairness that people who come to this country in small dinghies can be on the social housing list.”
Even before Tice made his speech, the chief executive of the Generation Rent activist campaign expressed outrage.
Ben Twomey – a failed Labour election candidate – says: “Forcing people back into insecure and unsafe homes is not a promise, it’s a threat levelled at England’s 11 million private renters.
“Our homes are the foundations of our lives, so it is disgraceful to see Reform UK pledging to roll back new and essential protections that would improve the quality of our homes and help us to stay in them for longer.
“Reform UK had nothing to say at the debates about the Renters’ Rights Bill when it was passing through Parliament.
“They also haven’t spoken to renter groups like us about their plans, which would be a gift to unscrupulous landlords who are responsible for the poor conditions renters face right now.
“Renters have fought for decades for laws that give people greater security in their jobs and homes.
“The public widely supports the new laws to protect us, so we urge Reform UK to show renters more respect and think again about what they are offering voters.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today