Tenants need more homes for private rent, landlords tell Labour

With the 2023 Labour Party Conference now underway, the NRLA has issued its response to the party's pledge confirming that it will boost housing supply if elected to government.

The party's announcement occurred prior to a fringe event which is set to be hosted by the NRLA at Labour Party Conference. The event, entitled 'Winning People Back: how can we provide housing that meets the public's aspirations?', will cover a range of topics, and will feature a discussion on how politicians, civil servants, civil society, and the public can best work together to fix the housing crisis.

Reacting to the Labour Party's comments on supply, Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said:

“Labour is right that the only way to address the housing crisis is a significant increase in the supply of homes. But this also needs to include new homes for private rent. With 25 would-be tenants enquiring about every available home to rent, tenants are crying out for new rental housing now. 

“Private rented housing provides one of the best springboards into homeownership, whilst landlords are well placed to help bring the almost quarter of a million long term empty homes back into use.

“Increasing supply is the best way to improve choice and affordability, and doing so would substantially boost Treasury revenue. Scrapping the stamp duty levy on homes to rent would see 900,000 new private rented homes made available across the UK. This would lead to an additional £10 billion in revenue as a result of increases in income and corporation tax receipts.

“The Party should accept the recommendations of the Labour-led Housing Select Committee to reform the tax system to support the provision of more homes to rent.”