RLA Staff and external guest blog posts
This post sets out the experiences of landlords trying to meet the requests of tenants and would-be tenants who are seeking homes which are adapted to the needs of the elderly of disabled. The post concludes by finding an opportunity for local authorities, the voluntary sector and private landlords to work together. This could be an opportu nity to use licensing revenues constructively and raise the PRS offer to particular groups of residents.
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Adaptations: Enabling a sustainable supply of private rented options
The previous Landlord Confidence Index (LCI) showed confidence finally rising in the final quarter of 2019 – albeit from low levels. However, in Quarter 1 2020 – the fieldwork for which coincided with coronavirus lockdown – shows a picture of landlords coming to terms with new challenges and pressures.
Well over half of all landlords (60%) were feeling “Less” or “Much less” confident than they did in the previous quarter – just over 6% felt “More” or “Much more” confident.
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LANDLORD CONFIDENCE INDEX (LCI) NO.5: 2020 Q1
This post reviews a range of landlord surveys which have investigated their use of Section 21. Despite the range of samples, methodologies, and repsonses in these studies a consistent pattern emerges.
A typical landlord rarely uses Section 21. When they do so, it reflects frustration with alternatives.
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Landlords & their sparing use of Section 21: The evidence is clear & consistent
The RLA Policy Director, Dr David Smith, sets out the case for a dedicated Housing Court. Such a court would restore confidence among landlords and tenants.
This article first appeared in the FT in February 2020 and is reporduced here with kind permission of the Financial Times.
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The need for a Housing Court
Whilst the 2019 Q4 Landlords' Confidence Index (LCI) shows some improvement in optimism, it is relative. The proportion of landlords feeling less optimistic continues to be greater than those feeling more optimistic.
2019 was a year in which landlords took a battering from the legislature, and 2020 is not yet likely to offer any respite.
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LANDLORD CONFIDENCE INDEX (LCI) NO.4: 2019 Q4
With Section 21 on the way out, a landlord's only means for taking possession of property is through the Section 8 process.
This article details how waiting times for repossession have been too high over the last 10 years, showing no real signs of improvement.
Regionally a similar pattern emerges, progress is scattered and inconsistent.
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REPOSSESSION WAITING TIMES: TOO LONG TOO OFTEN
Between 2010 and 2019 over half the courts in England and Wales were closed. The government announced investment of £1bn to improve on-line facilities and make the court process more efficient. Have these reforms worked?
This is the first of a series of blogs in which the RLA examine access to justice in the PRS.
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THE WAIT OF JUSTICE: THE SLOW PACE OF THE COURTS IN GREATER LONDON
This post presents Bank of England data on the volume of residential loans to individuals. It provides an overview of overall volumes and the proportion of advances issued in the Buy-To-Let (BTL) market.
The 2019 Quarter 3 data - published before Christmas - reflect RLA PEARL’s caution on the outlook for the PRS and investment in BTL.
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Buy-to-Let figures highlight nervous mood among landlord-entrepreneurs
This deep dive into the 2019 Quarter 3 survey reflects on the landlord community's investment in pushing up the energy efficiency of their properties.
With much more needed to be done, there is a clear case for a mechanism to bring forward investment and move energy efficiency in the PRS still closer to wider government objectives.
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Landlords shine brightly…but energy efficiently
The RLA teamed up with the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) to give landlords and letting agents in Scotland a chance to give their views on the recent tenancy and possession reforms introduced by Holyrood.
The system is new, there are concerns but there are clearly elements of the new system which are welcomed.
However there is still much to do before landlords would agree the new system could be considered "a success".
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Scottish tenancy reform: Some positives with more to follow?
