Radical thinking needed to change Government’s landlord policies

Property website founder issues a call to action

The man behind property advice website Property118, Mark Alexander, has launched a campaign to persuade the government to halt its current policies towards the private rented sector.

As you will know, recent years have seen several new laws aimed at regulating private landlords. As well as changes to tax relief, stamp duty and tougher mortgage applications, there has been more selective and mandatory licensing.

Meanwhile, a ban on tenant fees is imminent. There is also talk of increasing minimum contract lengths to three years. Pressure groups are also sharpening their knives and eyeing Section 21  evictions with murderous intent.

Amongst the ministerial bustle, headlines declare that landlords are leaving the market and predict soaring rents as the sector shrinks.

Into the fray steps Mr Alexander.

Time to reconsider

The founder of the popular landlord forum has launched a petition to call for the government to reconsider its policies towards the rented sector. He sees these policies as tantamount to an obsession with first time buyers at the expense of everything else.

So far, so usual. There are already petitions doing the rounds. Last month, we reported on the Government’s reply to a petition on the official Parliament website, which calls for the reintroduction of full mortgage interest relief and dropping the 3% stamp duty surcharge.  The government’s response: a firm no. Meanwhile, the petition is still a long way off the 100,000 signatures required for Parliament to debate it.

Mr Alexander argues that this is the problem.

Time to change tack

To his thinking, signing petitions is all well and good, but what’s really needed is action.

I hope that he doesn’t mind us revealing his larger strategy, before you sign his petition. After all, we agree with him.

He argues that members of Parliament are unlikely to know about the groundswell of dissatisfaction from private landlords and won’t until those magical 100,000 signatures are reached.

Rather than wait for this moment, Mr Alexander wants to use his petition to build a motivated army of landlords who will take their concerns directly to their local MPs.

In fact, Mr Alexander argues, many MPs will be in the dark as to the problems that government policy are causing. In fact, it could be putting millions or renters at risk.

More than a signature

Mr Alexander’s idea is this: once you have signed his petition, you should deliver a copy directly to your local MP.
You can do this by booking a meeting at their October constituency surgery.

If you don’t know who your representative in Parliament is, you can find an online directory here: https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/.

You will need to telephone their constituency office to book a meeting. They will probably ask for some ID and proof of address, as well as some information on why you want to meet.

Mr Alexander suggests you tell them you want to meet “to discuss the contraction of the private rented sector and the impact on our constituency”.
At the meeting, hand a copy of the petition to your MP and their clerk and ask for them to personally pass the message to Theresa May.

Here at Purple Frog, we’re happy to support any government measures that will ensure tenants get a fair deal and are happy and safe. If you’re a regular reader of this blog, I would guess that you’re a landlord who cares for their tenants’ welfare as much as the rent you achieve.

That’s why we’re sure you’ll agree with Mr Alexander’s assessment that over the last few years Government policy has pointed away from helping tenants and towards harassing landlords. Whatever the good intentions, the Government’s approach will ultimately end up harming tenants’ more than it will help them.

A large, active private rented sector encourages consumer choice, improves the standard of rental stock on offer and means renters have access to affordable and comfortable properties.

Unfortunately, as Mr Alexander has seen, simply signing petitions isn’t enough. The message isn’t getting through.

We need to go beyond general carping and take some action. For each of us, it is an hour or two out of one day. Collectively, it’s a strong message to Parliament that a rethink is in order.

I’ve signed the petition and will be joining a client to meet their local MP. I will let you know what happens at the meeting.

Don’t forget to sign Mark Alexander’s petition to find out all of the details of his action strategy.

Your can sign the signature, here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/competition-will-increase-the-quality-of-housing-of-all-tenures

Further reading

www.purplefrogproperty.com/blog/tougher-buy-let-mortgage-rules-hit-month/

www.purplefrogproperty.com/blog/fixing-broken-housing-market/

www.purplefrogproperty.com/blog/landlord-tax-changes-begin-take-effect-april/