Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary has pledged that the next
Labour Government will protect private renters in England from
eviction with new ‘indefinite’ tenancies, based on rules
currently in place in Germany.
The change would revolutionise the private rental market. German
tenancies last, on average, 11 years, compared to around 4 years
in England. The German system is also widely seen to act as a
brake on rent increases, given that landlords may use the
changeover of tenants as an opportunity to hike rents. Tenants
themselves are still be able to choose to leave the property
after a period of notice.
In England, according to a survey of landlords conducted by the
Government, landlords or their agents make the decision to end
almost one in five tenancies (18%). At present, tenants can be
evicted without any reason being given, and despite having done
nothing wrong. One in three private renters – 1.6m households –
have dependent children.
Under the German system, tenancies are effectively open-ended
with a tenant only able to be evicted on tightly defined grounds,
for example if they don’t pay the rent or commit criminal
behaviour in the property.
At the 2017 election, Labour committed to default three year
tenancies. Labour will now consult widely with landlord and
tenant groups on the proper grounds for termination of a tenancy,
ahead of the next general election. The Party has previously set
out additional measures for controls on rents and tougher
standards which will sit alongside this new proposal.
MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing
Secretary, said:
“People shouldn’t be living in fear of losing their homes.
“The insecurity of renting is a power imbalance at the heart of
our broken housing market, where tenants are afraid to report
problems in case they are evicted, and families with children are
forced to move at short notice.
“Many landlords provide decent homes that tenants are happy with,
but the Government is allowing rogue landlords to take advantage
of good tenants. Renters deserve better.”
Ends
Notes to editors
