Your campaigns update for November

With the party conference season coming to an end and both Parliament and the Senedd resuming regular business, we have been busy conveying your concerns to those who matter in England and Wales. Campaigns and Public Affairs Executive, Samuel Leeson explains more.

As part of our ongoing efforts to campaign for landlords in anticipation of an upcoming General Election, the NRLA attended both the Conservative and Labour Party Conferences, engaging with a wide range of influential stakeholders. 

NRLA Chief Executive, Ben Beadle met Conservative politicians, including the Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt MP, Ben Everitt MP, Rebecca Pow MP, and others. 

We also hosted two thought-provoking panel events at the respective conferences. 

Our event at the Conservative Party Conference delved into the most significant challenges confronting the private rented sector (PRS). It featured contributions from likes of the Housing Minister, Rachel Maclean MP, who discussed the Renters (Reform) Bill and stressed the importance of landlords having a guarantee that the court system will work for them. 

The event at the Labour Party Conference struck a slightly different tone, focusing on the housing crisis and explored how the PRS could be seen as a solution to the current crisis, not the problem. Notably, the Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, who is spearheading an independent review of the PRS for the Labour Party, spoke of the “vital role” the rented sector had to play during the discussion.  

Renters (Reform) Bill – Campaign success 

After months of delays and painstakingly slow progress through Parliament, the Renters (Reform) Bill finally received its second reading. In a major campaign win for the association, the Secretary of State, Michael Gove MP, announced significant changes to the Bill.

Secretary of State addresses NRLA Annual Conference  

Hot off the heels of the Renters (Reform) Bill's second reading, the Secretary of State also delivered a keynote speech at the NRLA's Annual Conference, during which he emphasised that a healthy PRS is 'critical' to a proper functioning housing market. 

In addition to these comments, he reiterated the Government's commitment to reform the court system before the abolition of Section 21 and recognised that the overwhelming majority of landlords provide an invaluable service. 

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee Chair, Clive Betts MP, also delivered a speech, in which he commended the NRLA for the evidence and research we have provided to support the work of his committee. 

Campaign win for HMO landlords and tenants 

Following consistent campaigning by the NRLA and others including the HMO Council Tax Reform Group, the Government announced that it will end the practice of disaggregating HMOs for council tax purposes. This follows the Government's decision to consult on the issue in February of this year, during which we outlined how our members could support our campaign by submitting evidence.  

What lies ahead? 

Parliament will reconvene early this month after recess, with the King's Speech scheduled for November 7th. During the speech, the Government will outline its priorities for the new parliamentary session, which will include reference to the Renters (Reform) Bill and long-awaited Leasehold Reform Bill. 

The Renters (Reform) Bill is set to move to committee stage and the NRLA has been invited to provide oral evidence on November 14th. We will keep you updated through our news site and social media channels on how members can tune in to watch NRLA Chief Executive, Ben Beadle, present evidence to the Public Bill Committee on the day.  

On November 22nd, the Chancellor will present the Autumn Statement, detailing the Government’s tax and spending plans. Learn more about the measures the NRLA is calling for the Treasury to adopt in order to boost investment in the PRS.

Support our campaigns and get involved

We are committed to advocating for your interests as landlords at the highest levels of government.   

To discover how you can contribute to our campaigning, take a look at the NRLA’s write to your MP page, where you can find template letters and our online tool that will automatically find your local MP and ensure your letter follows parliamentary protocol.    

As always, we appreciate your ongoing support and remember, your voice matters, and with your support, we can drive positive change for landlords across the country.