Ensuring your voice is heard: the NRLA responds to the launch of the Government's Rental Reform white paper
The NRLA has made national headlines following official confirmation from DLUHC on 16 June that the Renters’ Reform white paper has arrived.
The white paper represents the biggest change to the private rented sector in over three decades, with many of its proposals set to fundamentally alter the relationship between landlord and tenant.
The NRLA welcomes the white paper's approach to possession grounds and court reform, but urged the Government to provide much-needed additional details on what will replace Section 21. You can read the rest of our response to the news here.
As part of our wider push to ensure the Government takes into account our members’ views on the subject of rental reform, we mounted a comprehensive media campaign designed to get our point of view across to key stakeholders.
Yesterday, the NRLA’s spokespeople were able to help us achieve blanket national, trade and local coverage as a result of the statement we pro-actively issued to media in advance of the announcement. So far, our efforts have helped us to secure almost 500 pieces of media coverage.
Throughout the day our key spokespeople – CEO Ben Beadle and Policy Director Chris Norris – were able to set out the NRLA’s position on major broadcast outlets, including BBC Breakfast, Sky News, the Evening Standard, LBC and GB News. Overall, we received over thirty pieces of broadcast coverage over the course of the day.
On BBC Breakfast, Chris Norris was able to set out our stance on the need for a Section 21 replacement which is fair and allows landlords to deal effectively with the problem of anti-social tenants. Later in the day, Chris was also able to offer similar insight to listeners who tuned into Jim Diamond’s LBC afternoon show.
Running in parallel with Chris, Ben Beadle contributed to a Sky News discussion with Generation Rent concerning the various aspects of the Bill, in which he expanded on those proposals we welcome and those about which we are concerned.
Similarly, Ben was also asked to appear on GB News’ lunchtime show by presenter Liam Halligan in order to provide the ‘landlord’s view’ for viewers. He also touched on the white paper concerning the Government’s proposals regarding pets in rented accommodation.
Following his appearances earlier in the day, Ben was interviewed by the Evening Standard’s Jon Weekes for the newspaper’s daily podcast, ‘The Leader’. You can listen to the episode featuring Ben by clicking here.
In addition to our official NRLA spokespeople, one of our members was able to share his views on the reforms. Landlord Andy Graham was interviewed by BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat, with a view to him providing the view of the average landlord regarding the proposals. Andy was able to make the point that the Government continues to overlook the well-documented supply and demand crisis affecting all housing tenures.
The NRLA’s statement was also covered by a range of other national titles including BBC News, the Financial Times, The Telegraph, Mail Online, The Independent, FT Adviser and the Evening Standard.
If you’d like to read the Government’s Bill in its entirety, click here for more details.
Ben Beadle also took part in a Facebook Live broadcast on 16th June during which he outlined the white paper proposals and took questions. To rewatch the recording of this, click the video below.