The National Residential Landlords Association has set out details of its support for specific amendments to the Renters Rights Bill.
As Landlord Today revealed last week, the Bill returns to the House of Lords on April 22, for the first of at least two days of detailed consideration by committee.
The NRLA is backing two amendments on rent arrears which it says will give landlords the confidence to know they will still be able to regain possession – in a timely manner – should their tenants stop paying rent.
Lord Carter of Haslemere proposes the existing (two month) threshold remains when the Renters’ Rights Bill comes into force, in line with NRLA recommendations, as well as a caveat that would exempt arrears built up as a result of issues with Universal Credit payments.
The association says it has also recommended other changes that it claims makes the Bill “fair and workable”.
These include the introduction of a system to assess rent increases before disputes are sent to the tribunal, developed in conjunction with the Valuation Office Agency; and a move to allow an initial rent payment to be paid as a condition of a landlord agreeing to a tenancy; and the reintroduction the two-month threshold for rent arrears when it comes to triggering possession proceedings using the mandatory ground.
The NRLA also backs changes to the student possession ground. The association says: “:We are calling for an extension of the ground allowing it to be applied to one- and two-bedroom student homes, and to allow students to pay rent by term (rather than monthly).”
In all 50 pages of amendments have been tabled since the Renters’ Rights Bill was last discussed in the Lords on February 4.
If the committee requires additional days to consider the various options, the government has said these will be arranged in the second half of April.
This article is taken from Landlord Today