NLA: Renting is not second best
Wednesday, 21 May 2008 8:06 AM
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has called on Brits to shelve the negative connotations associated with rented property.
The trade body - which represents the interests of landlords in the UK - commented following the released of a government report today into the supply of rented accommodation in the UK housing market.
A report from the Department for Communities and Local Government committee (CLG) finds today Briton needs 50,000 more rented properties annually.
The committee also states the aspirations of renters "are every bit as important as those of homeowners".
The view is echoed by the NLA which states for a very wide range of reasons not every person can buy and live in their own property.
"Rented housing should not be seen as second-best. According to government figures, 81 per cent of tenants are on good terms with their landlords and it is good to see that the significant contribution landlords make to the housing mix has once more been acknowledged," said NLA chairman, David Salusbury.
"Where people are suffering at the hands of irresponsible rogue landlords in sub-standard rental accommodation, local authorities should be using the existing statutory powers they have in order to force the necessary improvements to be made."
However, while broadly welcoming the report, the NLA did raise some concerns.
The NLA argues the report failed to recognise the importance of local authorities to use their wide-ranging powers to tackle rogue landlords and sub-standard housing in the sector.
Far from needing further regulation, argues the NLA, professional landlords should be able to rely on their local councils to identify and clamp down on both bad landlords and tenants who give the whole sector a bad name.
Chris O'Toole
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