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Should more be done to improve renting?
This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
An industry peer has stated that he feels more needs to be done to improve renting, as opposed to focusing solely on making properties more affordable for those looking to buy.
Peter Girling, chairman of Girlings Retirement Rentals, has said he wants to see longer private tenancies introduced, in order to give renters ‘greater security of tenure.’
Tenancies
Mr Girling said: ‘In our latest customer survey carried out in October 2016, we found that 85% of people wanted a tenancy of 12 months or more and 71% said that the security of assured tenancies we offer that enable residents to rent their property for as long as they choose, mattered most to them when making the decision to rent.’[1]
His comments come only days after Citizens Advice said that it will be heightening its campaign for longer tenancies, in an attempt to overhaul the sector.
According to figures, 39% of people living with their children in rented accommodation have a tenancy agreement of just six months or less, which creates uncertainty.
Should more be done to improve renting?
Longer agreements
In addition, 34% of private renters want their tenancy to be longer, with this number rising to nearly 40% for those with children. Families now account for nearly 40% of the private rented sector.
Concluding, Mr Girling noted: ‘Like Citizens Advice, we believe that should longer tenancies become more widely available for all sectors of the market – from young professionals, to families and older people – this may remove the uncertainty people face and give them more reassurance and greater security of tenure to plan for the future.’[1]
[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/1/longer-term-tenancies-needed-to-enable-tenants-to-plan-for-the-future
