Reform UK has pledged to ditch the Renters’ Rights Act in a bid to reverse the fall in the supply of rental properties if it won the next general election.

Speaking at a press conference, the party’s new business, trade, and energy spokesperson, Richard Tice, said the party would repeal legislation that was unnecessary or against the national interest, along with “well-intentioned legislation that is having the opposite effect”.

Many landlords are now concluding it’s too difficult to remove a tenant if they want to sell or if they’re not paying, said Tice. “There’s a balance of risk and reward – too many are saying ‘enough is enough’. The Act is well-intentioned around period of notice to quit but it’s gone way beyond this. If you take it too far it will have the opposite effect. Property numbers are reducing – if you reduce supply, the prices go up.”

He also promised to make getting planning permission easier and announced plans for a new British Sovereign Wealth Fund that would ultimately fund thousands of new homes.

Fewer

Leader Nigel Farage pointed to fewer available rental properties, and a 60% reduction in Clacton since 2020. “The percentage of people’s income being spent on rent – it’s a disaster – we need more supply of property to rent. There’s a chronic problem with social housing and a profound sense of unfairness that people who come to this country in small dinghies can be on the social housing list. It’s what the new Fund will help – building hundreds of thousands of affordable homes that will drive up supply,” said Farage.

Tenant groups have reacted with outrage at the comments, with Generation Rent labelling them “disgraceful”. Chief executive Ben Twomey (pictured left) says forcing people back into insecure and unsafe homes is not a promise, it’s a threat levelled at England’s 11 million private renters.

Essential

“It is disgraceful to see Reform UK pledging to roll back new and essential protections that would improve the quality of our homes and help us to stay in them for longer,” says Twomey.

“Reform UK had nothing to say at the debates about the Renters’ Rights Bill when it was passing through Parliament. They also haven’t spoken to renter groups like us about their plans, which would be a gift to unscrupulous landlords who are responsible for the poor conditions renters face right now. We urge Reform UK to show renters more respect and think again about what they are offering voters.”

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