Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has reassured responsible landlords that they have nothing to fear from upcoming rental reforms.

With only a week to go until the Renters’ Rights Act takes effect on 1^st May, he acknowledges that changes of this magnitude in the “most significant package of reforms to the sector in almost four decades” are inherently unsettling.

Writing in the NRLA members’ magazine, Pennycook says he also recognises landlords’ concerns around implementation, particularly court capacity and the possibility of making inadvertent mistakes.

“I am acutely aware, as I have been since we first introduced the Bill to the Commons, that the measures in the Act will place demands on parts of the state that the sector relies on,” he says. “To ensure a smooth implementation of the Act these must be ready. We continue to support the justice system with funding to make sure that the courts and tribunals have the resources and capacity they need to cope with any increased demand that results from the changes we are making.”  

Committed

Pennycook wants landlords to have the right support to navigate the transition and points them to gov.uk guidance and a campaign site to access resources and FAQs.

“If you haven’t already done so, I strongly encourage you to read the implementation roadmap we published in November last year which can be found on gov.uk. This sets out how the Act will be implemented, as well as the support the government intends to provide to support to the sector.”

Tangible

He explains that the Act will provide landlords with tangible benefits in the form of simpler regulation and clear and expanded possession grounds, so they can regain their properties quickly when necessary. “Strengthened local authority enforcement powers will be brought to bear on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against renters, helping to improve the reputation of the sector as a whole,” he adds.

“As a responsible landlord, you have a vital role to play in implementing these historic reforms.”

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