Join us at the Labour Party Conference

Our Chief Policy officer, Chris Norris will be at the Labour Party Conference, which opens in Liverpool on Sunday. With key issues including the Renters’ Rights Bill and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards high on the agenda, he explains why the NRLA will be in attendance, and what he will be looking out for. 

Party conference season is back and this weekend I will be heading up to Liverpool for what may be my 20th Labour Party Conference. 

Given the 14 months experience Labour has gained in Government, I would hope the celebratory element of last year’s conference has given way to the gritty policy details that this Government needs to grasp if it wants to be successful.

However, given the rumblings of the last week, I suspect that protest and infighting will play just a big a part.  

Why is the NRLA at Labour Conference? 

Party conference season is expensive, tiresome, and often exhausting, and it is tempting to dismiss the value of attending -  particularly when no election is imminent.

However, after a recent reshuffle which included a new Housing Secretary and multiple new ministers with responsibilities for the private rented sector, conference is an opportunity to hear directly from these ministers on how they view their roles.

This includes hearing from the new Housing Secretary Steve Reed, to find out more about his vision for the PRS and wider housing market. 

Of course, it isn’t necessary to travel to Liverpool to hear ministers speak. I could do that far more comfortably in the office. What conference also offers is a rare opportunity to connect with representatives of other organisations in the housing sector and to discuss how we can campaign together on issues that can make a difference to you.

These include minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) and the Renters’ Rights Bill. With more than 800 fringe events and a good number of these related to housing, it is possible to have those in-person conversations with think tanks, journalists and other trade bodies and make sure that the experiences of private landlords are represented in both media coverage and policy. 

What to look out for at Labour Conference? 

Of particular interest at this year’s Conference will be any details on implementation timelines for the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Members may be aware that the Bill is in its final parliamentary stage and is expected to become law this Autumn, with the Government thus far remaining tight-lipped on implementation details and dates, saying only that they will be announced once the Bill has become law. 

One of our key asks is that the sector be given a minimum six-month lead-in period between these details being made public and measures coming into force.

This would give landlords, tenants and the wider PRS sufficient time to adjust and put in place, the required procedures for these new rules.

While I am in no way expecting Steve Reed to stand up and announce that “the Renters’ Rights Bill will begin to be implemented on X date…”, I will be on the look out for any hint given, either in his speech or at fringe events, as to when this will happen.

Another key subject that I will be keeping an eye on is MEES. Members who have been keeping up to date with this issue will know that the Government has proposed all privately rented properties must reach an EPC by 2030 with a cost cap of £15,000 per property for energy efficiency works. You can find the NRLA’s recommendations on this policy here. 

The consultation on these proposals closed in May and we are still awaiting the Government’s response alongside any potential changes to the policy, which we have argued are need if landlords are realistically going to be able to comply with the proposed Minimum C standard.

As this is something that members have told me personally, at NRLA Connect meetings and other events, that this is something they are deeply worried about, I will also be spending my time at Labour Conference trying to press Ministers as to exactly when the Government’s response will be coming and looking for hints as to what it may contain. 

Keeping members updated 

I will update members post-conference on what unfolded at Labour Conference and what the discussions there likely mean for the Government’s policy on the PRS moving forward. 

Keep an eye on our news site and social media channels for all the latest news and updates.