Posts with tag: RLA

RLA angry over ‘misleading’ evictions report

Published On: July 26, 2017 at 9:46 am

Tags: evictions,evictions process,landlords,RLA

The Residential Landlords Association has reacted angrily to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, after the publication of what it calls ‘misleading and distorted’ information into evictions in the private rental sector.

Alan Ward, Chairman of the RLA, sent the letter to the Foundation’s new chief executive Campbell Robb, formerly head of Shelter UK.

Concern

Mr Ward’s letter highlights concern about the, ‘potentially misleading and distorted presentation of official statistics on repossessions.’ This includes the claim that, ‘the number of tenants evicted by private landlords exceeded the number evicted by social landlords for the first time in 2014.’[1]

Citing detailed Ministry of Justice data, Ward said that these results clearly show that in every year since 2014, social sector landlords have made more repossession claims than private sector landlords.

In his letter, Ward said, ‘This would be the case even if every claim using the accelerated procedure was undertaken by private sector landlords. I would therefore be grateful if you could provide an explanation as to how JRF has arrived at the conclusion that ‘the number of tenants evicted by private landlords exceeded the number evicted by social landlords for the first time in 2014. ’[1]

RLA angry over ‘misleading’ evictions report

Disputes

Furthermore, the RLA disputes a claim from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that, ‘over 40,000 tenants were evicted from their homes by landlords in 2015.’ It is also seeking clarification over the claim that, ‘of the 40,000 evictions, there were 19,019 repossessions in the social housing sector and 22,150 in the private rental sector.’[1]

Responding, Ward again cities Ministry of Justice figures: ‘This data very clearly shows that since 2014, more bailiffs have been sent to repossess properties in the social rented sector than in the private rented sector. The only way that it could be shown that there were more bailiffs involved in repossession cases in the private rented sector would be to assume that every accelerated procedure was for the private rented sector which as well as being undocumented is unlikely given the documented balance between private and social landlord evictions. I would be grateful therefore if the JRF could make clear where its figures have come from.’[1]

The response from the RLA comes a day after Paul Shamplina, head of Landlord Action, called for eviction firms to be regulated, in order to ensure professionalism within the sector.

[1] https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/7/trade-body-angry-over-misleading-and-distorted-evictions-report

RLA claims BTL crackdown is based upon false assumptions

Published On: July 6, 2017 at 8:55 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: Buy-to-Let,landlords,RLA,tax changes

The Residential Landlords Association has released data that suggests that thousands of private landlords could be pushed into a higher tax bracket unfairly, following the introduction of new tax rules.

Branding the Government’s assumptions as ‘clearly false,’ the RLA believe that nearly two-thirds of individual landlords are only liable for the basic rate of income tax. The trade association suggests that this challenges the assumption that landlords have large incomes and can therefore cope with tax hikes.

Figures

Government figures indicate that of the 1.9m landlords that are not incorporated and return a self-assessment tax return, two thirds were in the basic rate bracket. 30% were found to be in the higher rate band, while just 4% paid the additional rate.

These figures come after David Miles, a former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, warned that tax rises targeting landlords could well lead to tenants being hurt.

In addition, separate research conducted by the NLA shows that the proportion of landlords with a solitary property who believe that they will be moved into a higher tax bracket has nearly doubled since the end of 2016.

16% of landlords with a single property now feel that this is the case, and increase of 7% from the final quarter of 2016.

RLA claims BTL crackdown is based upon false assumptions

False Assumptions

Chairman of the RLA, Alan Ward, noted: ‘The previous chancellor increased taxes on the private rented sector based on what are now clearly false assumptions. It is especially worrying that Ministers cannot tell how many properties, and therefore tenants, could potentially be adversely affected by their policies.’[1]

‘We need more homes to rent to meet growing demand. It is time that the tax system encourages rather than stopped housing growth cold dead,’ he added.[2]

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/7/buy-to-let-tax-crackdown-based-on-false-assumptions

Right to Rent affecting those with no passport

Published On: June 16, 2017 at 10:45 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: Buy-to-Let,landlords,passports,Right to Rent,RLA

A new piece of research carried out by the Residential Landlords Association has again raised concerns over the Right to Rent scheme.

Nearly half of private landlords asked said that the scheme has made them less inclined to let to would-be tenants without a UK passport.

Checks

Around 17% of UK citizens do not have a passport, which means they could unintentionally lose out under stringent immigration checks.

51% of landlords are less likely to consider letting to tenants outside the UK. As uncertainty surrounding the status of EU nationals in Britain continues, 22% of landlords said that they are less likely to rent property to nationals from the EU or the European Economic Area.

Right to Rent affecting those with no passport

Most landlords surveyed said that they were less likely to let to people who cannot provide a UK passport, as they fear criminal sanctions should they be inadvertently tricked by fraudulent documents.

As a result, the RLA is supporting an application for a judicial review of the Right to Rent policy by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants. It is concerned that the scheme discriminates against those who cannot provide their status easily.

Damage

RLA policy director David Smith, noted: ‘These figures show the damage that the right to rent scheme is causing for those who might have the right to rent property, but cannot easily prove their identity.’[1]

‘The added threat of criminal sanctions is clearly leading many landlords to become even more cautious about who they rent to. This is a dangerous and divisive policy that is causing discrimination. It must be scrapped,’ Mr Smith concluded.[1]

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/6/britons-with-no-passport-struggling-to-rent-due-to-immigration-checks

RLA Membership has Hit a Huge 30,000 Landlords

Published On: March 2, 2017 at 9:26 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: advice for landlords,landlord association,landlord group,landlord information,landlord organisation,RLA

A huge 30,000 landlords are now members of the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), just 18 months after RLA membership hit the 20,000 mark.

RLA Membership has Hit a Huge 30,000 Landlords

The RLA was set up in 1998 by landlords, for landlords. The not-for-profit organisation, which is Britain’s leading landlord body, has seen huge growth in recent years. It now represents landlords with a total property portfolio of over 340,000 homes.

RLA membership gives landlords access to its helpline, training programmes and essential documents.

In the past year, the association has answered 40,000 helpline calls, trained more than 4,000 landlords, and provided over 297,000 documents.

The RLA is also lobbying in the corridors of Westminster, attending more than 100 parliamentary meetings to campaign on behalf of its members.

Following the huge increase in RLA membership, the body is extending a thank you to all of its members for helping the association become the leading voice for landlords across England and Wales.

The Chairman of the RLA, Alan Ward, says: “This is a massive achievement for the RLA, and something we could only dream of when the association was first established almost 20 years ago.

“The private rented sector is a challenging landscape to negotiate, with tax changes and ever-changing regulation meaning that now, more than ever, landlords need someone they can trust to help them navigate their way through.”

He continues: “In the last 18 months alone, 10,000 landlords have turned to us to do just that, with membership going from strength to strength.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to our members and assure them we will continue to fight on their behalf to make renting safe, legal and secure for everyone.”

Even if you are a member of the RLA, remember that you can receive the latest news and updates for FREE by signing up to Landlord News here: www.34.207.192.121/register/

RLA wants Rent Smart Wales deadline extended

Published On: November 16, 2016 at 9:52 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: landlords in Wales,Rent Smart Wales,Rent Smart Wales deadline,RLA

There have been fresh calls to extend the registration deadline for Rent Smart Wales, which is looming next week (23^rd November).

The scheme requires anyone who rents out property in the country to either register or become licensed by this date.

Extension

However, the Residential Landlords Association said that many investors in Wales are still unaware of their obligations.

Rent Smart Wales said that landlords were given plenty of notice to register and therefore would not be extending the deadline.

Worryingly, A Freedom of Information request by the Residential Landlords Association indicated that just 32,230 landlords had registered by the 18^th October. This is out of a total of 130,000.

These figures were released by Cardiff council, which is administering the scheme for Wales as a whole.

Request

Mr Douglas Haig, RLA director for Wales said that he was to write to Community Secretary Carl Sargeant to request a new deadline, in order for landlords to be further educated on their responsibilities.

Despite this, Rent Smart Wales has argued that there has been a large increase in people registering as the deadline approaches. 46,300 of the 130,000 landlords in question have now registered, with another 11,400 starting the process.

Haig feels that communication has been ‘poor’ and that ‘very few’ landlords are aware of the scheme. In addition, he notes that others are leaving it till the last minute as registration licences last for five years from the date they are approved, not November 23^rd.

‘I don’t think it’s asking a lot for the Welsh Government or Cardiff council to come forth with an education plan to get this information out there. That would be a sensible approach,’ Haig explained.[1]

RLA wants Rent Smart Wales deadline extended

No changes

Responding to these calls, a Rent Smart Wales spokesman said: ‘We have no intention of extending the deadline. However, we do recognise that, due to the very high numbers of landlords visiting the website to register and apply for licenses, some are experiencing difficulties.’[1]

‘The Rent Smart Wales team consists of 79 posts and the team are working hard to reduce waiting times for customers. Once the November 23^rd deadline for complying has passed, enforcement powers will be used in a sensible and proportionate manner,’ they concluded.[1]

[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-37939620

RLA slams council licensing scheme proposals

Published On: March 8, 2016 at 1:55 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Property News

Tags: council licensing scheme,landlords,licensing schemes,RLA,rogue landlords

A call to make it simpler for some local councils to bring in licensing schemes governing the private rental sector has been slammed by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA).

The RLA believes that the proposal will do little to remove criminal landlords from the sector. A response was directed towards a new report from the London Housing Commission, which recommended that the Government should be allowed to give borough councils the option to create their own landlord licensing schemes.

Waste

In its response, the RLA said that schemes such as these are a waste of time and money, noting that criminal landlords who show no regard for regulation never make themselves known. In addition, ministers have previously called licensing schemes as a ‘tenants’ tax.’

Offering an alternative, the RLA has called on councils across the capital to utilise powers already accosted to them. These involve having the majority of fit and proper landlords regulated by a single industry-run scheme, which leaves authorities free to target criminals operating behind the scenes.

RLA slams council licensing scheme proposals

Rooted out

RLA chairman Alan Ward acknowledged that, ‘we all want to see criminal landlords rooted out of the sector but making licensing easier for councils is not the answer.’ He stated that, ‘no criminal landlord ever makes them self known willingly,’ and that, ‘licensing only increases the time councils spend administering the scheme when they could instead be devoting these resources to finding criminal landlords.’[1]

However, the RLA has welcomed calls in the report for more public sector land to be made available for the development of fresh private rental properties.

Ward said, ‘we welcome the focus that the Commission has on boosting the supply of homes to rent. Ultimately, it is only by tackling the housing shortage that high rents can be addressed.’ Concluding, he noted that, ‘it is vital though that any moves to increase the supply of rental housing recognises that the vast majority of landlords are and will continue to be, individuals rather than big corporate bodies.’[1]

[1] https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2016/3/industry-body-slams-bid-to-make-council-lettings-licensing-easier