“We will crack down on rogue landlords and drive them out of business. But we will never jeopardise the new appetite for investment in this sector with red tape and unnecessary regulation. That would simply undo the good work of the last 5 years – a journey that has taken this country from the brink of bankruptcy to the fastest growing advanced economy in the world.”
The annual RESI conference, which takes place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport on from the 7th to the 9th of September 2015, attracts over 1000 delegates for 3 days of learning, debate and networking, with Brandon Lewis invited as keynote speaker.
Speaking of the growing economy and its impact on housing Mr Lewis said:
“Businesses are growing, more people are in work than ever before, and living standards are rising. Our plans for devolution will give cities, towns and counties across the country the power to galvanise their local economies, deliver more homes, and provide a better business environment.
“The government will continue to provide capital through Build to Rent, and cheap finance through our guarantees schemes. We will release our land for development and encourage councils to do the same, while continuing to ensure the planning system is more efficient and productive. Britain is a country on the rise, and we are creating the conditions for investment in the housing market.
“So I’d encourage everyone in the room today to make sure your businesses can benefit from the new opportunities on offer, and deliver the homes that families need. The government will continue to facilitating investment in private rented sector, while using our powers to tackle the small minority of landlords that continue to offer a poor service and give the whole industry a bad name.”
Speaking about the government’s drive to eliminate rogue landlords, Mr Lewis said:
“Standards in the sector have been steadily improving, and customer satisfaction is high, but there is still room for improvement. The vast potential for investment in the sector will only be realised if rented homes have a reputation for good management.
“That is why we recently published a discussion document setting out proposals that include a blacklist of rogue landlords and letting agents, banning orders for the worst offenders, extending Rent Repayment Orders to cover poor property conditions and illegal eviction, and the introduction of civil penalties.”
Article courtesy of LandlordZONE
