The government is planning tougher action against landlords who rent out properties in poor condition, with councils potentially being given greater powers to take control of homes that fail to meet required standards.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said landlords of the lowest-quality rental properties could first be given a warning to make improvements. Those who fail to act could eventually face having their properties acquired by local authorities.
The announcement comes alongside wider plans to strengthen leaseholders’ rights, increase regulation of property agents and introduce a cap on certain fees.
Action On Poor-Quality Rental Homes
Burnham said too many properties in the private rented sector are being allowed to fall into a poor state of repair.
He highlighted concerns about homes that could affect tenants’ health and have a negative impact on surrounding neighbourhoods.
The Prime Minister said landlords would be expected to improve properties that fall below acceptable standards. Where owners fail to make the necessary improvements, councils could have greater powers to intervene and acquire the properties.
The proposals are aimed particularly at the worst examples of poorly maintained rental housing, rather than properties where landlords are already meeting the required standards.
Plans To Increase Council Housebuilding
Burnham also used his conference speech to outline plans to increase the role of councils in providing housing.
The government intends to support local authorities in building more council homes, including through the use of unused public land.
Changes to Right to Buy are also being proposed. Under the plans outlined by Burnham, existing homeowners would retain their current rights, while newly built council homes could be excluded from Right to Buy.
The aim would be to ensure that new council housing remains within the social housing stock for future generations.
Councils To Get More Empty Home Powers
The announcement follows separate government plans to give councils greater powers over long-term empty properties.
Under the proposed reforms, councils could seek control of homes that have been empty for six months, compared with the current two-year period.
The government also plans to remove some of the evidence requirements councils currently face when applying for an Empty Dwelling Management Order through the Residential Property Tribunal.
This includes requirements relating to anti-social behaviour and support from the local community.
Propertymark Calls For More Detail
The proposals have prompted a response from the property industry, with Propertymark calling for more information about how the new powers would operate.
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said tackling poorly maintained properties should remain an important issue, but argued that councils need to consider the circumstances of individual properties and tenants.
He also raised questions about how remedial work would be carried out while a tenant remains in the property, who would be responsible for different aspects of the work and what would happen to properties placed under local authority control.
Douglas pointed to the upcoming Register Your Rental Property Service, which is due to be introduced for landlords from December. He said this could give councils greater access to information and help them target enforcement more effectively.
Propertymark’s position is that councils should make better use of existing enforcement powers where possible, rather than adding unnecessary layers of regulation.
What Could This Mean For Landlords?
The proposals could increase pressure on landlords whose properties fall below expected standards.
Owners of poorly maintained rental homes may face greater scrutiny from councils and could be required to carry out improvements.
However, details of how any new powers would work in practice have yet to be fully established.
For landlords, the key issue will be understanding the final standards, enforcement process and circumstances in which councils could intervene or seek control of a property.
The government is expected to provide further details as the proposed reforms progress.
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