Landlords organise to oppose plans that could see rent cap introduced in Wales
Landlords in Wales are being urged to have their say on Welsh Government legislation which could see a rent cap introduced.
The government’s proposals are set out in its Green Paper on fair rents and adequate housing, which asks for views on a range of models for rent control, including strict price ceilings or rent freezes.
Opposition to the plans are being marshalled by the National Residential Landlords’ Association (NRLA) which has created a “toolkit” to help landlords understand the consultation on the green paper and respond “appropriately”.
The NRLA says that that rent controls are not the solution to the housing crisis in Wales and says if introduced “they will reduce the supply and quality of rental housing and discourage investment and innovation”.
Rent controls will also harm tenants, the NRLA adds, and they will also face higher competition and lower rented housing standards.
Ben Beadle, the NRLA’s chief executive, said: “Rent controls would serve only to decimate the sector further and would be a disaster for tenants, when so many are already struggling to find a place to rent.
Socialist
Janet Finch Saunders of the Welsh Conservatives has also criticised the plans, which she described as “more socialist and nationalist red tape”, adding “consultations are not going to reduce rents and deliver more affordable housing.”
The NRLA says that having more landlords respond to the consultation, which closes on 15 September, the stronger the case against rent controls will be.
Climate Change Minister Julie James said that via the Green Paper, the Welsh government wanted to “better understand the rental market in Wales, in particular what factors influence landlord behaviour in setting rents and taking on tenants and what do tenants consider is an affordable and adequate property”.
She added: “I am committed to using all the levers we have to ensure we maintain a viable private rented sector here in Wales… where landlords have confidence to invest in making improvements and tenants have greater certainty that longer term costs of moving into or staying in a rental property will be affordable.”
Figures from the Office for National Statistics released earlier this year revealed private rental prices had increased by 4.8% in the year to April 2023.
This is the highest level recorded since the ONS started gathering the information in January 2010.
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I see Janet Finch Saunders is against this. Therefore, it must be a really good idea! Better yet, according to the inestimable Janet, it’s both socialist and nationalist. Even better! Where do I sign up?
High time some form of fair rent system was introduced, i.e. controlled rents and if landlords then try to leave their properties vacant as a protest, ask them awkward questions and then, if needs be, local authorities should then commandeer the properties. Local authorities already have a legal mandate to do that, especially where rented homes are below standard: property can be temporarily taken over, renovated and then let to local people in need at social rents to recoup costs, with the property then handed back to the landlord after the costs incurred are recovered. Medium to long term, Wales… Read more »
I agree, she’s a multiple landlord always appears in landlord forums, spoke against the plydd eviction ban , she’s a torrie and x staff allege she’s a bully
I don’t think this is as simple as say previous bills looking at ensuring all landlords are keeping to certain standards.
There are reports which look at how this sort of action is implemented in different areas with it being unclear that it helps renters or low income renters. The reasons for this would need to be looked at as well and whether it’s worth making concessions to landlords on this matter.
Not an easy issue to fix especially with UK government thus far refusing to devolve HS2 which restricts investment and ensures focus on one area of Wales only.
The private sector was always a foolish idea to house 10000’s