Chris Norris: In defence of a welcome

This week we welcomed the reappointment of Angela Rayner as housing secretary - and some of you want to know why. Here our chief policy officer Chris Norris outlines why a healthy dialogue and mutual respect are vital if we are to bring about real change for you and your businesses.

Welcome, Bienvenue, Willkommen, Benvenuto, Swgat he, Bem-vindo

This week the NRLA issued a press release welcoming the new Secretary of State for Housing back to the Cabinet. We also welcomed the fact that the housing minister retained the portfolio and will in the future be invited to attend cabinet meetings.  

For anyone that missed it, we said we 'stand ready' to work with the ministerial team and took the opportunity to warn them that 'rent controls would undermine the supply of homes to rent'. 

To most, this type of press release forms part of the background chatter of public affairs.

Ministers receive hundreds, if not thousands, or welcome letters when they are appointed to a new post, all of which are eventually acknowledged, whilst the real work of government engagement goes on.

However, a few vocal contributors to the debate about issues in the PRS posed some pointed question of NRLA.  

I wouldn’t repeat some of the more assertive language here, but in summary they would like to know why a landlords’ association would welcome Ms Rayner back, given her undeniably poor reputation with many landlords. 

Some of the fruitier implications aside, it’s a valid question and one that I thought it worth discussing with members here.

A healthy dialogue

Firstly, and addressing the broader point about why we do what we do, the NRLA works to maintain a healthy dialogue with all legitimate political parties and organisations that affect the environment within which landlords operate. It doesn’t matter if we agree with them or not.

It doesn’t matter if we think their respective ideology is for the birds, or likely to be our salvation. We do not have the luxury to pick and choose who we work with.  

As a result, over the years with this organisation, I have welcomed the appointment as secretary of state responsible for housing of:

• Ruth Kelly

• Hazel Blears 

• John Denham 

• Eric Pickles 

• Greg Clark (twice) 

• Sajid Javid 

• James Brokenshire 

• Robert Jenrick 

• Michael Gove (twice) 

• Simon Clark (very briefly) 

• Angela Rayner (twice); and  

• Steve Reed.

They represent two (now technically three thanks to a defection) political parties, at least three factions of the Labour Party, a coalition government, and more Conservative cabinets than I have space to mention. 

They rarely agreed with one another, let alone us. And, in fact, I’m pretty sure that the first incarnation of Michael Gove would have disagreed stridently with himself when he was re-appointed a short time later, but I welcomed them all nonetheless.

A question of professional respect

We welcome them, not because we think we’ll necessarily be pleased with everything they introduce or say, but because we recognise the importance of the role and respect the office.  

Whatever their views, or the relative merit thereof, the individual in that office in Whitehall has the power to set policy that materially impacts our businesses and lives.  

The letter and associated press release is an opportunity to re-introduce ourselves and our members.

To highlight how important our collective needs and concerns are, and to frame the future debate.  

In this case, we introduced objections to rent controls and highlighted the desperate need for additional housing supply.

We positioned NRLA as a strategic stakeholder and ensured that private landlords will feature in their first ministerial red box.

Never a missed opportunity

The second strategic reason for this specific missive, was to set out a particular pressing policy position.

We did this by identifying where these ministers stand on certain issues and provide a basis for discussion.  

What the headlines rarely capture is the detail contained within a letter or press release.

In this case we were able to remind the Secretary of State that she had previously asserted on the record that: “Rent controls restrict housing supply, which does not help anyone.” 

In addition to ensuring the housing minister recalls that he previously said: “There is sufficient international evidence from countries such as Sweden and Germany, and from individual cities such as San Francisco, as well as the recent Scottish experience, to attest to the potential detrimental impacts of rent controls on tenants.” 

Against a backdrop of lots of speculation about price intervention and the cost of living, this will be an important placeholder for future activity. 

After all, it is their words, not ours.  

When the NRLA is working on behalf of members, each statement, and piece of correspondence, is an opportunity to represent and advocate for practical solutions.  

We could choose to be hostile, holding out for a minister or spokesperson with whom we have a comprehensive affinity, but I suspect we would be waiting a long time.

In the meantime, private landlords would lose their seat at the table their voices would not be heard.  

Housing ministers tend not to stay long. They are our guests for a brief time, and as such we will make them feel welcome. We probably won’t agree about much, but we can disagree convivially and professionally. Afterall, good manners cost very little.