Planned eviction reforms won't support rental market improvements
As the UK Government continues to move ahead with plans to remove the Section 21 eviction process, which is currently in the consultation phase of planning changes, two separate groups have stated that such action is unlikely to have a positive outcome.
London Mayor confirms his commitment to providing the homes Londoners need
London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan further reinforced his commitment to building more affordable homes across London at the inaugural Homes for Londoners conference. Taking place in Newham earlier in October, spokespeople from both the private and public sectors gathered together to help discuss London’s property needs and how community groups and development companies can work together to help ensure the homes that are needed in the city are built.
Rental costs seen rising more quickly than house prices over the next 5 years
The latest housing market survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reports on a number of different elements of the UK’s housing market. When it comes to the rental market, its members are of the view that the imbalance between supply and demand remains very much in place and this is something that will likely push rents higher in coming years.
Would Manchester rent controls mean fewer rental homes in the city?
Following in-depth research into housing in Manchester and how affordable – or not - it is for the young people who live there, a new report has identified a number of ways to help young people afford to live in the city, with a form of rent control among the recommendations. However, following the publication of the report, some concerns have been raised that any form of rent control could hurt the supply of private rental sector properties.
Government updates its PRS enforcement guidance for local authorities
The Government's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its Private Rental Sector enforcement guidance for local authorities. The updated toolkit and knowledge bank are there to help local authority’s PRS enforcement team understand exactly what they should expect from landlords operating in their area, which rules they need to enforce and why they need to be enforced.
Average rent moves mixed, while void periods rise in much of the UK
Average rent changes were mixed across the UK in September, rising in some regions and falling in others. At the same time, the period for which properties were void, was less positive, rising in most areas in the UK. Despite those mixed moves, overall, it still appears that the UK’s rental market remains well supported with high levels of demand.