Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Strategy. Read the original article for full details.
Committee Calls for Stronger Protections for Private Renters
A new report from the cross-party Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) committee says the government should do more to protect private renters. The committee welcomed the government’s renters’ rights reforms but stated that further action is needed to improve housing standards and protect vulnerable tenants.
The committee’s report, titled "Housing conditions in the Private Rented Sector," recommends incentives to help landlords meet the new Decent Homes Standard before the 2035 deadline. It also calls for tougher penalties for landlords who break the rules.
Recommendations for Letting Agents and Landlords
The committee wants Awaab’s Law to be extended to the private rented sector from 2026, with legal deadlines for fixing serious hazards to apply across the sector by the end of 2028/29. The report highlights the need for councils to receive sufficient funding and powers to enforce new rules, and for the planned Private Rented Sector Database to help tenants check whether landlords and homes meet required standards.
The committee also calls for a review of whether councils have enough powers and resources to enforce standards, and warns that new minimum energy efficiency standards could fail without proper enforcement. It recommends that the Private Rented Sector Database include information on landlords, property conditions, and enforcement action, and that tenants be able to report concerns through the system.
Selective Licensing and Rent Increases
The report supports wider use of selective licensing in areas with poor housing and urges ministers to remove barriers that prevent councils from using these schemes. It also calls for stronger protection for lower-income renters, warning that excessive rent rises could become a form of “economic eviction.” The committee rejects rent controls but suggests the government ensure the first-tier tribunal deals quickly with disputes over above-market rent increases.
The report repeats calls for Local Housing Allowance to be restored to at least the 30th percentile of market rents, stating this would reduce the risk of homelessness and poor-quality housing.
Industry Response
The National Residential Landlords Association welcomed the committee’s recognition that most renters are satisfied with their homes and that most landlords provide safe, decent, and comfortable homes. The association agreed with the need for incentives and improved enforcement but rejected the idea of making it easier for councils to introduce landlord licensing schemes.
Source: Mortgage Strategy