A Member of Parliament introduced a Bill designed to amend the law relating to long leaseholders; to confer further powers on leaseholders; to make provision in relation to leaseholders in local council-owned property and property owned by other social landlords; to confer powers on landlords to create sinking funds; and to make requirements of landlords relating to the management of property.
Source: Leasehold Reform Bill, Simon Hughes MP, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2007-Dec
A new book examined trends in the private rented housing market. The new regulatory environment was opening a series of new issues that had significant potential to affect (and potentially damage) the market.
Source: David Hughes and Stuart Lowe (eds.), The Private Rented Housing Market: Regulation or Deregulation?, Ashgate Publications (01235 827730)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Dec
An article examined two legislative approaches intended to control housing conditions in the rented sector – the landlords' contractual obligations, and the powers of local authorities. The landlords' covenants were almost totally ineffective, and it therefore rested on local authorities to protect the health and safety of tenants.
Source: Roger Burridge and David Ormandy, 'Health and safety at home: private and public responsibility for unsatisfactory housing conditions', Journal of Law and Society, Volume 34 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Dec
A discussion paper explored the options for the future of the private rented sector. It said that the sector should be more accessible; provide enhanced security of tenure for those tenants who regarded this as important; offer safe and appropriate housing conditions that protected the health and well-being of its tenants; and be underpinned by a positive landlord-tenant relationship.
Source: Elaine Jones, Fit for Purpose? Options for the future of the private rented sector, Shelter (020 7505 4699)
Links: Discussion paper
Date: 2007-Oct
A report said that the private rented sector could have a significant role to play in alleviating the shortage of affordable housing. It highlighted the scope for an institutionally run private rental sector, managed by large firms with the kind of service and quality not delivered by individual 'buy to let' investors.
Source: Steve Wilcox, Can't Buy: Can Rent – The affordability of private housing in Great Britain, Hometrack Data Systems (0845 013 2350)
Links: Summary | BPF press release
Date: 2007-Oct
An official advisory body began consultation on ways to regulate the landlord-occupier relationship in the private sector. It said that in many respects the existing law did not operate as Parliament hoped. Too much rented property was poorly managed.
Source: Encouraging Responsible Letting, LC181, Law Commission (020 7453 1220)
Links: Consultation document | Law Commission press release | Letting News report
Date: 2007-Jul
The government began consultation on proposals to require landlords in England to provide their tenants with an annual statement showing how service charges were spent – on repairs, maintenance, improvements, professional fees, and staff costs. The measures would be backed by new rights for tenants to withhold service charges where a landlord failed to comply.
Source: Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002: A Consultation Paper on Regular Statements of Account and Designated Client Accounts, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Consultation document | DCLG press release | Letting News report
Date: 2007-Jul
A report said that many private tenants were living in poor housing because they feared eviction too much to complain. Landlords were evicting tenants in retaliation for requests for repairs or complaints about their accommodation.
Source: Debbie Crew, The Tenant?s Dilemma: Warning: your home is at risk if you dare complain, Citizens Advice (020 7833 2181)
Links: Report | Citizens Advice press release
Date: 2007-Jun
A Member of Parliament introduced a Bill designed to require planning approval for the change of use of housing to multiple occupation.
Source: Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill, Alan Whitehead MP, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2007-May