Summary
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.
Topics in this section include:
Coronavirus campaign
In addition to our support for landlords with our policy guidance, we're campaigning on landlords' behalf to ensure their concerns are addressed throughout the coronavirus crisis.
Wales
To compliment the below information, we have produced extra information about landlord support for energy efficiency, fuel poverty, and safety standards specifcally available in Wales.
Coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic has led to wide-ranging changes across society. As well as Government interventions - such as emergency legislation relation to possession and financial support for individuals and companies - landlords are managing their properties during a time of high uncertainty and with fast-moving health advice.
The NRLA is working hard to ensure that our members can access the information and support they need during this time, through guidance, lobbying and raising awareness.
Find out more about our campaigning on this issue here.
Guides for landlords
How the NRLA is supporting landlords
We are reviewing our guidance regularly and keeping the pages above updated in line with the changing situation. Please check back for the latest information. If after reading the guidance above you need advice on your specific circumstances, NRLA members can contact our Advice Line on 0300 131 6400.
The NRLA has produced a number of very useful webinars which have been viewed by thousands of landlords over the last couple of months, the recordings of these are accessible here:
- Watch again NRLA COVID-19 Series – Managing rent arrears
- Watch again: NRLA COVID-19 Series – Mortgages
- Watch again: NRLA COVID-19 Series – Electrical safety
- Watch again: NRLA COVID-19 Series – Possession
- Watch again: NRLA Covid-19 Series - Electrical safety
- View previous webinars…
Landlords supporting tenants
We’ve heard from a number of members who are making extra effort to support their tenants during this challenging time, whether that’s by proactively contacting tenants to offer flexibility with rent payments, delivering essentials to vulnerable tenants or even arranging an online cook-along for tenants and providing them with ingredients.
If you’ve got an example of support which you’d like to share, please get in touch and share your story below.
Latest news
What you need to know about the eviction ban extension
The Government announced yesterday that both the ban on using bailiffs, and the longer notice periods for Section 21 and 8 will continue in the same form until the end of May. Senior policy officer James Wood explains what landlords need to know.
Chancellor must act to tackle rent debt crisis
A joint statement by The Big Issue Ride Out Recession Alliance, Crisis, Citizens Advice, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Money Advice Trust, The Mortgage Works, National Residential Landlords Association, Nationwide Building Society, Propertymark, StepChange Debt Charity and Shelter.
Peers reference NRLA call for financial support
The NRLA was referenced multiple times in the House of Lords this week in relation to our continued call for more financial support to help renters pay off rent arrears built due to the pandemic.
Government fails to tackle Covid rent debt crisis
The eviction ban in England has been extended for six weeks, in a move described as a 'sticking plaster' by landlords. Current restrictions were due to end on Monday. The NRLA says the move will do nothing to support landlords and tenants long term and what is needed is a comprehensive financial package, to allow tenants to continue to pay their rent without building unmanageable debt.
Ministers need to get a grip of the rent debt crisis
The National Residential Landlords Association, Big Issue and Ride Out Recession Alliance, Shelter, ARLA Propertymark, the Nationwide Building Society, and StepChange the Debt Charity have issued a statement following the re-introduction of a national lockdown.
Safety
Everyone should be confident that they have a safe home. It's a landlord's responsibility to provide a safe home for their tenants, to ensure the property is free of serious hazards and to maintain the condition of the property throughout the tenancy.
Our policy work in this area focuses on:
- fire safety, including cladding
- electrical safety
- gas safety
- the Housing Health and Safety Rating System
- carbon monoxide.
Our work
Our current projects include:
- contributing to the development of new fire safety standards following the Grenfell Tower disaster
- lobbying for updated guidance on fire safety for landlords
- involvement in the review of HHSRS
- monitoring the implementation of the new electrical installation safety standards
- participating in the working group on carbon monoxide.
Our previous major work in this area includes:
- membership of the Electrical Safety Roundtable, an industry group advising the Government on the introduction of the electrical installation regulations
- working on the development of the LACORS guidance on housing fire safety
- contibuting to the development of the smoke alarm regulations.
Latest news
Clarity on new electrical safety regulations
The NRLA recently sought clarification from the government around how new electrical safety rules for landlords should be interpreted in relation to the compliance and implementation dates. .
Related documents
Energy efficiency
Carbon emissions and energy efficiency are high on the politcal agenda. The UK Government has committed to reaching net-zero carbon by 2050, one of the most ambitious targets in the world. Decarbonisation of housing will play a significant part in achieving their goal, with around one-fifth of all emissions arising from the sector.
As well as requiring a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to rent out homes, landlords in England and Wales must comply with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) in order to let a property. This currently requires a minimum E rating, unless the landlord has registered a valid exemption. This minimum is going to rise over the coming years as the Government moves closer to its target date.
Our work
We are working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on the future requiremens for energy efficiency in the private rented sector.
We are calling for the Government to:
- commit to a trajectory for measures in the private rented sector, rather than individual incremental steps, providing landlords with a clear ultimate target to reach which will allow for business planning for improvements
- recognition from the Government of the high level of investment required from individual landlords and measures to support this, such as making energy improvements tax deductible and offering finance options
- introduce building passports, so that it's clear for property owners what measures have already been taken and what further can be done to improve their rating
- support local authorities to develop a repository of best practice, indicating the process for upgrading local archetypes of houses.
Latest news
Green Homes Grants: What went wrong? What went right?
Whilst the long-term target of government is to enable more than 600,000 homes in England to become more energy efficient, the GHG voucher scheme made only a modest contribution to meeting that target. However the scheme's failings and resultant low take-up does not negate the need for a scheme. The conclusion from the evidence presented here is that for those landlords who wished to address EPC levels, the GHG voucher provided invaluable support.
Related documents
Regulation
Everyone deserves a right to live in a decent home and in most cases tenants do. However, there are a small number of criminal landlords who provide substandard, unsafe homes. These criminals are often the cause of people saying that the sector is unregulated but this could not be further from the truth. There are over 150 acts of parliament that create over 400 legal obligations on a landlord. The vast majority of landlords are committed to providing good quality and follow all of these obligations.
Our regulation work covers both national and local regulations. Find out more about our work with local Government.
Our policy
- There should be a more strategic approach to regulation from Government, with a cohesive approach to the private rented sector across different policy areas.
- We are working with others in the sector no the concept of a property 'MOT' - a regular confirmation of the condition of the property alongside documentation of statutory requirements such as Gas Safe certificate, electrical installation checks and an Energy Performance Certificate. This could provide an alternative to discretionary licensing schemes.