Candid Commons Committee Clash Over Landlord Licensing Schemes

A London Mayor has been blunt about what bad landlords should face in his borough – lose your business; lose the house. But Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, had his borough’s record on bad landlords equally bluntly thrown back at him by David Cox, chief executive of ARLA Propertymark, during a Communities and Local Government Committee evidence session on the Private Rented Sector. Newham pioneered borough-wide landlord licensing. Cox told the committee landlord licensing “has never worked and never will work”. Read more on 24housing.

http://www.24housing.co.uk/news/candid-commons-committee-clash-over-landlord-licensing-schemes/

Government Has No Plans For Stamp Duty Holiday To Encourage Downsizing

Before the Autumn Budget there were calls for older people in Britain wanting to downsize to be given a stamp duty holiday to encourage them to do so and free up houses for families. But the Government has now made it clear that it does not back such a move and has no intention of introducing any such tax break. In written evidence to Parliament’s communities and local government committee on the subject of housing for older people, the Treasury says that providing a tax break for those looking to downsize benefits an already wealthy group of people. Read more on Property Wire.

Letting Fee Bans To Be Scrutinised

The draft Tenant Fees Bill and aims to deliver ‘a fairer, more competitive, and more affordable lettings market where tenants have greater clarity and control over what they will pay and where the landlord is the primary customer of the letting agent’.  The bill would prohibit all payments to lettings agents and landlords (aside from rent, security deposits, holding deposits and tenant default fees), cap deposits and introduce new civil and criminal offences for breaching the ban. The CLG Committee plans to hold a series of oral evidence sessions in the New Year with experts, tenant, letting agent and landlord associations, and trading standards authorities.  Read more on 24housing.

Housing For Older People Inquiry

The newly appointed Commons CLG Committee will continue the work of its predecessor on housing for older people in England. Renewed, the inquiry will examine whether the housing on offer for this group of people is sufficiently available and suitable for their needs and, in doing so, consider how older people wish to live. The committee will take into account the context of significant housing shortages, rising numbers of older people and pressures on health and social care – with public evidence sessions set to start next month. Read more on 24housing.