A think-tank report examined social landlords' engagement with their tenants. It said that spending had increased over the past year, but tenants had additional advice and support needs and, although organizations felt reasonably well prepared to meet those needs, there was still uncertainty around the impact of issues such as universal credit. The report made recommendations to landlords.
Source: Lauren Lucas and Andrew Walker, Building Better Dialogue between Tenants and Landlords, Local Government Information Unit
Links: Report | LGIU press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2013-Nov
A private member's Bill was published that was designed to establish a mandatory national register of private landlords, to introduce regulation of private sector letting agents and managing agents, to establish a body to administer the national register and to monitor compliance with regulations applying to letting agents and managing agents, and to require all tenancy agreements entered into with private landlords to take the form of written agreements.
Source: Private Landlords and Letting and Managing Agents (Regulation) Bill, Alan Meale MP, TSO
Links: Bill
Date: 2013-Oct
The government announced the introduction of a 'tenants' charter', aimed at encouraging longer fixed-term tenancies and raise standards in the private rented sector. Tenants would be able to request longer tenancies, avoid hidden fees, and demand a 'fair deal' from their landlords and letting agents. A model tenancy agreement, developed with the sector, would clearly set out the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords, and provide an industry benchmark for written tenancy agreements. The charter would require greater transparency about lettings agents' fees. A new £1 billion Build to Rent Fund and £10 billion of government-backed guarantees would encourage institutional investment in the sector. The government would encourage mortgage lenders to allow buy-to-let borrowers to offer longer initial fixed periods in their tenancy agreements.
Source: Press release 1 October 2013, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: DCLG press release | Guidance note | Guardian report | CIH press release
Date: 2013-Oct