Letting agents’ trade body Propertymark has issued a strong rebuke to London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan, who is accused of overlooking the role of the private rental sector in providing homes for Londoners.
In a response to a formal consultation by Khan and the Greater London Authority, Propertymark says the London Plan pays insufficient attention to the PRS.
The trade body says: “The sector plays a vital role in housing London’s diverse population, especially in the face of limited affordable and social housing. Without adequate policy support, the PRS is at risk of shrinking, driving up rents and reducing tenant choice
“We are calling for stronger collaboration between the GLA and central government to reduce the tax burden on landlords, streamline regulation, and provide funding support — particularly to those offering homes to vulnerable groups and tenants on low incomes. Propertymark would offer our support for any London-wide scheme to match landlords with households currently in temporary accommodation.”
However, when it comes to Airbnb-style short lets, Propertymark says it backs the idea of a national registration scheme, as enabled by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act.
The body says: “The mayor must press the UK Government to enact these measures without delay. We’ve also recommended exempting landlords using regulated, qualified agents—such as Propertymark members—from unnecessary licensing schemes, recognising that these agents already meet high standards of compliance and professionalism.”
The London Plan says the capital’s population has grown by 1.5m over the last 20 years, reaching a record high of almost 9m today.
The government says London requires 87,992 new homes per year, and the London Plan sets housing targets for each borough to achieve. This is based on where those homes can be built, rather than necessarily where the need for those homes arises locally.
This article is taken from Landlord Today