Government Must Back Landlords If It Wants Them to House Asylum Seekers, Says NRLA
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has warned that the Government must support landlords if it expects them to help house asylum seekers.
This comes after reports that the Home Office is looking to offer five-year guaranteed rent deals to encourage private landlords to offer properties for asylum seekers. One of the Government’s contractors, Serco, is said to be reaching out to landlords in the North West, Midlands, and East of England.
NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle commented:
“The Government has long relied on private landlords to help meet housing needs. The Home Office’s latest approach just highlights the ongoing housing shortage and the lack of joined-up thinking across departments.
“While some parts of government are working hard to hit housing targets and reduce homelessness, others are pushing policies that make landlords think twice about investing in rental homes.
“If the Government wants to tackle the housing crisis, it needs to support investment. Landlords need clear, stable rules and fair taxes to have the confidence to stay in the market. Without this, supply will remain low, and demand will keep rising.”
