London Mayoral elections in May

The EU referendum planned for the 23rd June is really taking the limelight at present what with David Cameron pushing for “remain” since his return  from Brussels In February, Boris Johnson putting his weight behind the “leave” campaign, the resignation of John Longworth Head of The British Chambers of Commerce following his fallout over “Brexit” and only just yesterday we had the “Eurosceptics” attack on Mark  Carney Governor of the Bank of England for his pro EU comments in the Brexit debate.

There is another important vote taking place before the EU refrendum and that is on the 5th May when Londoners will elect a new Mayor and the 25 members of the London Assembly.

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon is putting forward some worthwhile policies which deal with some of the problems facing the large population of “private renters” in London.

Ms Pidgeon said in a recent report that she would encourage landlords to offer longer tenancies if elected,  she hoped this would provide renters with both stability and protection from rent hikes, looking to increase them from the present 6 months to up to 5 years.

The LibDem hopeful has also pledged to build 200,000 new homes to increase supply and “push down” rents, last month she outlined proposalsto give tenants first refusal on buying their home should the landlord decide to sell it during their tenancy.

In a recent visit to an affordable housing development site Ms Pidgeon was reported as saying: “By making sure rogue landlords are prosecuted, enforcing housing standards and promoting longer tenancies of 3 to 5 years to give tenants security we can make an real impact on improving the lives of people who choose to rent.”

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Letting Agent Talk

Section 21 reform divides landlords and tenants

Five months after Section 21 was abolished, landlords and tenants remain sharply divided over whether the reform was necessary, but both sides agree that good relationships and clear communication have the greatest influence on how secure a renter feels, according to new research from LRG. The Autumn 2026 Lettings Report, based on responses from 405…
Read More →
to let sign 2025
Breaking News

70% of landlords anticipate rent rise due to Autumn Budget

As landlord exodus threatens rental supply The latest research from LegalforLandlords has found that 70% of UK landlords are considering increasing rents following the Government’s latest property income tax changes, while almost half are considering selling properties or reducing their portfolios, raising concerns about the future availability and affordability of privately rented homes. LegalforLandlords commissioned…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Estate Agent Talk

Estate agent earnings fails to keep pace with inflation

Estate agency earnings have failed to keep pace with inflation over the last decade, despite more positive growth in recent years, according to the latest industry analysis from eXp UK, highlighting why more agents may be looking towards the self-employed model to maximise their earning potential. eXp UK analysed Office for National Statistics (ONS) data…
Read More →
Breaking News

Southern landlords face up to £22,000 tax hit

Landlords in the South East could pay more than £22,000 extra tax over 25 years, with those in the South West facing more than £19,000 Property income tax hike squeezes a generation that has turned to bricks and mortar to fund retirement Retirees across the South of England who rely on property to supplement their…
Read More →
Breaking News

Corporate landlords cautiously optimistic after first six months of RRA

Impact of Renters’ Rights Act not as bad as feared for professional investors More than four in five (82%) corporate landlords looking to expand Analysis of data from LRG’s Living Markets division reveals that after six months in force, the Renters’ Rights Act is yet to have any significant negative impact on the corporate landlords…
Read More →
Breaking News

Property market has failed to meet expectations

Two-thirds of developers say property market has failed to meet expectations as Autumn Budget fails to boost confidence Jonathan Samuels, CEO of specialist lender, Octane Capital, believes that the Autumn Budget has done little to restore confidence across the UK development sector, with the firm’s latest industry insight revealing that 67% of developers feel property…
Read More →