Landlords Attack Government’s Immigration Proposals

Under proposals announced in the Queen’s Speech the Government is expecting private sector landlords to check that all their tenants are legally allowed in the country with likely fines for landlords found to be housing those not allowed to remain in the United Kingdom.  The Residential Landlords’ Association is warning that whilst immigration rules need to be enforced effectively, the reality is that tenants living in the UK legally will see rents rise as letting agents ramp up fees to cover the costs of further checks on tenants and to cover the greater risks new laws will bring. Such costs will inevitably be borne by tenants paying rents.  A spokesman for the RLA commented, “For a Government committed to reducing the burden of regulation it is ironic that they are now seeking to impose a significant regulatory burden on landlords making them scapegoats for the UK Border Agency’s failings.”  Read more on the RLA website.

Authorities Ditch Asylum Contracts

Birmingham and Wolverhampton councils have pulled out of providing asylum seeker accommodation on behalf of the government.  Both local authorities will withdraw after five year contracts with the UK Border Agency end on 30 June 2011. Both councils are in the West Midlands Consortium, through which they have the contract with the government, and cite huge waiting lists as a reason for their decision.  Read more on Inside Housing.