Only 14% of South London Landlords Optimistic about Renters Reform Bill

The Renters (Reform) Bill, which was introduced in May 2022, is still dividing opinion in the lettings industry, according to a new survey by RentTech platforms Goodlord and Vouch.

The survey, which polled more than 2,000 letting agents, landlords and tenants, found that the majority of landlords (62%) felt pessimistic about the bill, while only 14% were optimistic. Letting agents were more divided, with 43% feeling pessimistic and 29% optimistic.

The bill, which is still going through Parliament, would ban "no-fault" evictions and introduce a number of other measures to protect tenants. However, landlords have argued that it would make it more difficult for them to rent out their properties and could lead to a decline in the rental market.

The survey also found that landlords were more negative about the introduction of a property ombudsman than letting agents or industry suppliers. Only 22% of landlords felt that the ombudsman would have a positive impact, while 42% of letting agents and 41% of industry suppliers were optimistic.

The ombudsman would be responsible for resolving disputes between landlords and tenants. It is seen as a way of providing more protection for tenants and ensuring that they are treated fairly.

The survey findings suggest that the Renters (Reform) Bill is still a controversial issue in the lettings industry. It remains to be seen how the bill will be implemented and what impact it will have on the market.

Here are some additional thoughts on the findings of the survey:

The fact that the majority of landlords are pessimistic about the Renters (Reform) Bill is not surprising. The bill would make it more difficult for them to evict tenants and could lead to a decline in the rental market.

The fact that letting agents are more divided in their views is interesting. This suggests that some agents believe that the bill could be beneficial to tenants and could help to improve the rental market.

The fact that landlords are more negative about the introduction of a property ombudsman is also not surprising. Landlords are concerned that the ombudsman would be biased towards tenants and would make it more difficult for them to evict tenants.

Overall, the survey findings suggest that the Renters (Reform) Bill is a complex issue with no easy answers. It will be interesting to see how the bill is implemented and what impact it has on the lettings industry.

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