Landlord & Buy-to-Let Magazine Issue 64, March 2016 | Seite 16

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industry news

Landlords responding to needs
of children in rental housing
Independent figures show landlords
are meeting the growing need for
longer tenancies in private rented
housing, according to the Residential
Landlords Association (RLA).
The announcement follows new
Government figures showing that
whilst the proportion of children in
rental housing has increased, so has
the average length of residence in
such homes.
According to the English Housing
Survey for 2014–15, over the past ten
years the proportion of private rented
households with dependent children
has increased from 30% in 2004–05 to
37% in 2014–15.
Related to this is the trend for the
average length of residence for private
sector tenants in their homes increasing
to 4 years. This is up from 3.5 years last
year and a new five-year high.
The survey notes again that those

living in private rented housing for a
longer period generally paid less rent.
The RLA argues that these figures show
that landlords are already stepping up
to the plate and meeting the need for

longer tenancies for families.
The association is also pressing the
Government to remove barriers to longer
term tenancies, including restrictions
imposed on landlords by lenders and by
freeholders of leases.
Commenting, Alan Ward, Chairman of
the RLA, said: “Today’s survey confirms

what we have long known. Landlords
do not spend their time looking for
opportunities to evict a tenant. It’s time
to end the scaremongering on this.
“More can be done to help landlords
offer longer term tenancies without
the need for compulsory three- or
five-year tenancies. We are calling on
the Government to use the Housing
and Planning Bill to remove barriers
preventing landlords from offering
longer tenancies, including mortgage
and leasehold conditions that may
prevent this.”
“Notable increases in the average
length of time tenants stay in a private
rented property show the system
already enables longer tenancies that
so many are calling for. Landlords are
already meeting tenants’ requirements
and there is no need for heavy handed
legislation that would disrupt supply of
badly-needed accommodation.”

Majority of tenants don’t want
longer two - year plus leases
A new report reveals that almost
80% of tenants want a lease that is
between six months and two years,
with just one in five tenants wanting
longer leases, between 2–5 years.
The research also shows that over half
of tenants are hoping to move up the
rental ladder and rent a better property
when they can afford to. The study,
conducted by PropertyLetByUs.com – a
leading online letting agent, reveals that
the majority of tenants want their rental
property to feel like home, even on
short-term leases. Over 60% of tenants
would like to redecorate their property
and over half of tenants want to change
the carpets and floorcoverings.
A further 23% of tenants want to install
decking, while 18% want to add a hot
water tub and 13% want to create a
patio. Jane Morris, Managing Director of
PropertyLetByUs.com, comments: “Clearly
tenants don’t want long leases. For many,
longer than two years does not give them
the freedom and flexibility they need. They

may find a job, then move on to another
one, start out living with a friend and then
want to move in with a partner. However,
landlords like longer leases – they get
charged fees each time their agent needs
to find new tenants. Landlords can save
money by using an online lettings agent
instead of a high street lettings agent; the
sa