Around 8,000 of my constituents rent their properties through private landlords. The vast majority of these are happily renting and benefit from this well-regulated sector, whether they are young adults starting out on their professional journey, families renting a larger house or elderly residents who may be looking to downsize. Regretfully, we know that not all renters are happy and some live in poorly maintained, and sometimes dangerous, properties or are renting from dangerous landlords.
It is for that reason that the last Government brought in the Renters Reform Bill to protect tenants and landlords alike. We were unable to bring this through before the election was called, and so I was glad to see most of this legislation come back through parliament as the new Renters' Rights Bill. This evening, I responded to the second reading of this legislation on behalf of the opposition, providing scrutiny to strengthen the legislation.
The chief concern that I raised was that of the impact on the wider rental market if landlords are forced to leave the sector. I have heard from experts in the field about the concerns they have that, as additional burdens are placed on private landlords, they are more likely to enter the largely unregulated markets of short-term lets and temporary accommodation. We have seen this already happen in the Scottish rental market where similar regulations triggered an exodus of landlords, ultimately driving rents up in large cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. I am keen that such regulation is not implemented in London should these changes further increase rents in the capital which are already at an exceptionally high level.
You can watch my remarks here.
