The RLA (Residential Landlords Association) will be adding the voice of its members from the private rented sector to a petition they will be taking to Downing Street next week.
The target of the petition is the United Kingdom’s unscrupulous tenants who are using the law to live in a property rent free, while they hide behind a flawed court system.
Landlords have had enough of losing money and want some changes which will speed up the eviction process when there is a clear case of a tenant refusing to pay rent. Landlords also want a change in the law that will allow them better rights of access to their own properties when rent is withheld. They also hope the Coalition will think again over its plans to close a number of county courts, because they fear this will further delay the procedure for getting back possession of their property.
The RLA is joining Landlord Action and the Southern Landlords Association to take the joint petition to Downing Street on 15th November. Landlords are unhappy that they take out landlord insurance for protection and the tenant can still refuse to pay rent.
RLA Chairman, Alan Ward, says “When a tenant refuses to pay rent, or has anti-social behaviour issues that cannot be resolved, then they must be evicted. But, under the present system, this can take up to six months and, as a result, landlords with mortgages are losing properties as well as the chance for decent tenants to take their place. And protecting the county court network is essential to this. There is already an unacceptable delay because of the workload at county courts – yet the government is responding to this by actually closing courts around the country… so the remaining courts will be even busier.