Our campaigns and policy

The NRLA advocates for landlords across England and Wales, striving to influence policies and legislation impacting you and your tenants. From Westminster to the Senedd, we ensure that responsible landlords' voices are heard at the highest levels of government.

This section consolidates all our campaigning activities, showing what we stand for, how we engage with policymakers, and how you can participate. Whether you rent property in England or Wales, you'll find the latest updates and opportunities to support the issues that matter most to you.

Standards & Quality

The private rented sector has seen increased regulation over the past two decades, as the proportion of households living in the sector now reaches 20 percent.

Standards in the PRS have improved signficantly but there remains a higher proportion of homes in a poor condition than in other tenures.

Our work in this area looks to improve standards whilst taking a proportionate approach to regulation which supports responsible landlords whilst taking appropriate action against criminal landlords flouting the law.

Justice

Fair access to justice for both landlords and tenants is an essential part of a well-functioning housing market. Landlords must have the confidence that they can regain possession of their property quickly in legitimate circumstances, such as rent arrears, anti-social or criminal behaviour and should they need to sell. Likewise, tenants whose landlords are renting substandard or dangerous properties should be able to enforce their rights without waiting on overstretched or inefficient local authorities to take action.

Managing Tenancies

Landlords' responsibilities in tenancy management have changed significantly over the past two decades. As the demographics in the private rented sector shift and with 20 percent of households now privately renting, the Government is looking to regulate landlord-tenant relationships further.

Tax & Finance

The private rented sector (PRS) now provides a home for one in five UK households. Buying a home is out of reach for many people and the demand for private renting is set to increase. The Royal Incorporation of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) estimates that 1.8 million new homes to rent are required by 2025.

Despite this, little is being done to create a pro-growth tax environment for the sector. In fact, the tax environment is actively dissuading landlords from investing in new properties or releasing old ones for purchase.

Welfare

Private renting provides badly needed homes for vulnerable and low income tenants. The private rented sector has been increasingly relied on by tenants who are unable to access social housing due to a lack of supply.

Universal Credit, introduced in 2013 and currently being rolled out across the country, is completely transforming the way benefits are paid, with a single payment made directly to the claimant replacing six different benefits and tax credits. Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears and direct to the tenant, aiming to replicate income received through employment.

Improving access to the PRS

We believe that the private rented sector should work for everyone, however we know that some tenants find there are barriers to accessing homes in the sector.

The private rented sector is a vital part of the housing mix and now accounts for around one-fifth of all households. Despite this, much of the thinking about the role of the sector remains fixed - rather than taking advantage about the unique attributes of the sector to provide a choice of homes.

Local Government

Although legislation regarding the private rented sector is made at national Government level, it is local Government which implements and enforces regulations.

Local authorities also have discretionary powers to introduce additional and selective licensing, planning restrictions such as Article 4 Directions and guidance on minimum room sizes above the nationally-set legal minimum.

Adaptations

The private rented sector (PRS) is accommodating an increasingly diverse group of tenants, including more disabled and older individuals than ever before. As a result, there is a growing demand for adapted properties in the PRS. 

By 2046, it is projected that the number of UK households in the PRS headed by a person aged 65 or older will double, highlighting the need for landlords to adapt to a wider range of tenants with varying needs.