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Influential lobby group dismisses landlords' concerns over Renters' Rights Bill
Thursday 22nd August 2024
Simon Cairnes
On a recent interview on BBC Breakfast Generation Rent's Ben Twomey has dismissed concerns over how landlords will react to the Renters' Rights Bill and the abolition of no-fault evictions.
He was quoted as saying tenants' needs are more important and that landlords make so much money they can absorb any extra costs.
During it Twomey admits that the only real solution to rising rents and lack of rental property is to build 300,000 new homes a year.
In the meantime however, he says: "Eviction protections are too weak and rents are so high that you see an enormous amount of suffering in our country," he said.
"Eviction protections are too weak and rents are so high that you see an enormous amount of suffering in our country."
He was then asked whether landlords needed protecting too and if the changes in eviction rules would mean more landlords selling up and less rental accommodation.
In response Twomey insists the two were not equivalent. Landlords he says: "May have to delay their sale, for example."
Tenants on the other hand could become homeless and be: "Driven into poverty."
He believes that a longer (four month) eviction process would give tenants the time to avoid the worst outcomes.
He adds: "Landlords, I think, can bear that cost because of the enormous amount of money we're paying in rents already."
Generation Rent is an influential lobby group that works to ensure the voices of private renters are heard by landlords, policymakers and politicians.
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