Welcome to our Landlord Law weekly Newsround where we give you all the trending housing news and more.

‘Morally wrong’ new HMO rules must be reversed

Leading landlord lawyer, David Smith from JMW Solicitors wants the High Court to agree to a judicial review of the proposed changes in the Houses in Multiple Occupation (Asylum Seeker Accommodation) Regulations. These new regulations will exempt landlords in England and Wales from current HMO regulations ranging from minimum room sizes and electrical safety.

On top of this HMO landlords renting to asylum seekers would not have to register with local authorities, housing asylum seekers for anything up to two years with no HMO licenses. The worry is that landlords could end up renting their worst HMOs to asylum seekers and not keep current ones up to standard.

David Smith says that the government is ‘morally wrong’ to create a two-tier housing system. He wants landlords to help him rally the review. He comments

A bit of pressure now would be hugely effective – we just need a few people to put their heads above the parapet.

He is not alone in wanting this review reversed. Crisis, Shelter, the Refugee Council and Amnesty International have also written to the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman and Housing Secretary Michael Gove, asking them to not proceed with these plans. They are concerned that asylum seekers would be left vulnerable and unsafe.

Activists claim discrimination against migrants

Generation Rent and Migrant Organise, referring to new research, are claiming that migrants are being ‘shockingly discriminated‘ against when trying to rent property by both landlords and letting agents alike. They claim that out of 126 migrants looking for homes in the private rented sector, 42% struggled to find a landlord or agent to rent to them, and 74% struggled to find somewhere affordable.

Deposits were also an issue, with 40% unable to find the money for one, while 27% had difficulties providing valid ID for the Right To Rent checks.

Once in a property 57% of migrants said they had issues with damp and mould, electric faults or fire precautions. Generations Rent chief executive Ben Twomey says

Migrant Renters are subjected to an exhausting, unsafe and heartless system, where they are disproportionately forced to bear the brunt of the worst of the housing sector.

The upcoming Renters (Reform) Bill must work to support all renters into safe and secure housing, including marginalised groups such as migrant communities. Only by listening to migrant renters and understanding their experience, will the government be able to get serious about ending housing discrimination in the UK

However, the claims are based on a very small survey sample of just 126 so should be viewed with caution.

The rise of the older renter

The number of older renters is on the increase, according to Hamptons Lettings agency. They claim that by 2030 the number of renters over the age of 65 will have doubled. Today there are about 400,000 old households that are 65 years and older, and this figure is set to pass the one million level in 2033.

As home ownership becomes harder, The English Housing Survey has predicted that within a decade, the proportion of over 65’s renting will increase to 11.5% compared to just 5.7% today. Aneisha Beveridge from Hamptons says

The rising number of older renters reflects the gradual unwinding of the large increase in homeownership rates after the Second World War.  As younger generations who missed out on the homeownership boom age, growing numbers are likely to be renting when they retire.

The recent rise in mortgage rates will make it harder to buy later in life.  It’s long been the case that if you’re not on the ladder by 40 years old, it becomes more difficult.  But higher mortgage rates will make this challenge even tougher given the difficulties in stretching a mortgage term to reduce monthly payments, particularly in the early years.

Tough times ahead it seems.

Co-Op backs Shelter on anti-eviction

Shelter now has the backing and funding of the Co-Op to fight their new anti-eviction campaign. The bank is backing Shelter’s claim that every 172 days, private renting families in England are served a section 21 notice, that’s one every eight minutes according to the Shelter.

Nick Slape, Chief Executive Officer at the Co-Op, says

Fighting poverty and inequality across the UK is extremely important to our customers, and that’s why we’re campaigning on this issue alongside Shelter.  We were encouraged to see [the Renters Reform Bill] brought to parliament, but we need to see tangible action from the government now. Families across the country are depending on it.

Shelter claims that due to the high level of Section 21 notices being served, it is creating high levels of instability, with one in five families having to move three or more times in the last five years. Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Shelter, adds

With private rents rising rapidly and no genuinely affordable social homes available, those with an eviction pending face an increasingly hostile situation. Far from a relaxing holiday, these families will be desperately scrambling to find somewhere to live. Many parents will be forced to overpay and accept dire conditions, or deal with the prospect of becoming homeless.

It is unacceptable that the Renters Reform Bill has made no progress in Parliament, when the very eviction notices the government promised to ban years ago are continuing to land on people’s doorsteps in their droves. The government must bring back the Bill as soon as Parliament returns. England’s 11 million private renters are depending on it.

The Government is now ‘on holiday’ for six weeks which, Polly Neate says, each day they are off accounts to another 172 families served with a non fault eviction notice.

Clearly, not everyone will be having a happy summer holiday.

Snippets

Gove approves one of UK’s largest landlord licensing schemes
HMRC to use Renters Reform Bill to hammer landlords – claim
Renter ‘at risk’ as cost of living crisis continues
Government reveals EPC cost upgrades for PRS homes
Landlord who ‘ignored responsibilities’ given criminal conviction & £18k fine
Government to consult landlords on looming ‘eVisa’ Right to Rent check changes
Rightmove reports huge landlord exodus as EPC worries kick in

Newsround will be back next week.

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