Landlords have called on the government to ensure any housing reform is “done right” as the Conservative party takes the country’s helm for the next five years.
The UK voted overwhelmingly for the Conservative party, boosting the party’s position in the House of Commons by nearly 50 seats and providing its leader Boris Johnson with a majority of at least 78 MPs.
In April the party had proposed a consultation on abolishing the so-called ‘no fault’ Section 21 notices which give landlords the power to evict tenants at the end of their tenancy without a reason.
The then-government hoped the change would protect renters from ‘unethical’ landlords and provide them with long-term security as under the current laws, those renting can be kicked out with only eight weeks’ notice without a reason.
The Conservative party later renewed its pledge to end the Section 21 notices in its election manifesto and has now been voted into power on such a pledge.
But landlords have warned there are dangers if the reforms are not carried out correctly and urged the new government to ensure it strengthens the rights of good landlords to repossess properties where they have good cause to do so.
A dedicated, properly funded housing court would be needed along with new framework for eviction on grounds of anti-social behaviour or rent arrears with guaranteed time scales for landlords.
Bea Montoya, chief operating officer at business insurer Simply Business, said buy-to-let landlords contributed a combined £16.1bn to the economy through pre-tax spending and urged Mr Johnson and the Conservatives to recognise their “importance to Britain”.
