In a sub-section of the party manifesto entitled “Making renting normal and not a rip off”, the party acknowledged the need for a private rented sector but said it needs to be well regulated and the difference in power between landlord and tenant corrected.
If the Green Party was elected it would introduce a ‘living rent’ tenancy including five-year fixed tenancy agreements. ‘Smart’ rent control would cap annual rent increases and local not-for-profit letting agencies would be set up.
The party would also abolish letting agents’ fees and insurance-based deposit schemes and set up a Living Rent Commission to explore whether controls could bring rents more in line with local average incomes.
There would be a mandatory licensing scheme for landlords while tax deductions against a variety of expenditures, including mortgage interest relief, would be abolished.
Homeowners would be able to earn more tax-free rent by letting a room in their home as the Rent a Room limit would be increased to £7,250 a year.
The NLA said the manifesto does not appear to take a balanced view of the private rented sector. In a statement it said: “The Green Party appears to want people to rent, however, does not take into account the demands on landlords to provide safe and decent housing for those families. Rent controls have been proven not to work and many landlords will just sell up and leave the sector if they are introduced.
“Five-year tenancies will reduce the flexibility within the private rented sector that suits landlords and tenants alike and this policy does not take into account the fact that tenants can ask for longer tenancies already under the current system.”
The NLA questioned the figures quoted regarding tax deductions and highlighted that for many landlords these were not perks but essential for their businesses to remain viable.
Approximately 20% of NLA members recently surveyed said they had only just recouped their costs last year and over 10% had made a loss.
