Good News for Landlords - Gove U-turn

In an unexpected about-turn earlier this month, Michael Gove wrote that he now considers Independent Landlords to be ‘vital’ to ensuring a fair and functioning private rented sector housing sector.

Gove says landlords provide tenants ‘with flexibility and choice, and the value for money options that go with them’.

He feels that the common interests both Landlord and Tenant have in a property as being: “A place that can be at the same time a home and an investment, a valued asset and precious security, a shelter and haven.”

He adds: “It is vital that these relationships work for everyone, and that we strive to strike a balance for all.”

Focussing on the Government’s plans to reform the sector, which includes ending Section 21 repossessions, the Secretary of State also warns that in the minority of cases where relationships between landlords and tenants’ breakdown ‘it is important that the law is there for the victim – whether tenant or landlord’.

He also pledges to provide ‘more comprehensive grounds for landlords to recover properties’ and to make it ‘easier to repossess them where tenants are at fault’.

At PLJ we have many responsible Landlords and the Renters (Reform) Bill needs to work every bit for them as for Tenants.

It is important that the Government’s plans to reform the sector following publication of the new Bill include provisions for safeguarding decent Landlords.

We are very relieved to see this change in the Government's attitude towards Landlords - we need more Landlords, because without them it will only serve to exacerbate the rental housing shortage many tenants are now facing.