Access to Rented Housing Will Be Harder for Tenants Most In Need
Responding to amendments tabled to the Renters’ Rights Bill by the Government to restrict the amount of rent that can be sought in advance, Chris Norris, Policy Director for the National Residential Landlords Association, said:
“Restricting rent in advance, combined with freezing housing benefit rates and not enough rental housing to meet demand is creating significant barriers for those with poor or no credit histories needing to access the sector. This includes international students and those employed on a short-term or variable basis with an income that fluctuates.
“The Government is cutting off any assurance responsible landlords might seek when renting to those who cannot easily prove their ability to sustain tenancies and pay their rents. In the end those who will suffer most are those the Government most wants to help.
“Ministers must provide clarity on how tenants unable to easily demonstrate their ability to afford and sustain their tenancies should do so. Expecting landlords to take on high levels of risk without practical assurances is not a sustainable solution and risks further exacerbating the challenges in an already constrained market.”
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