Longer term tenancies in the Private Rented Sector

Introduction

This research explores the experiences and attitudes of private landlords to longer-term tenancies in the private rented sector (PRS). We focus on the current barriers to landlords offering longer tenancies and their thoughts on the UK Government’s proposed three-year tenancy model.

This research used a mixed-methods survey to develop an understanding of landlords’ experiences and attitudes. A national online survey was distrbuted to landlords known to the RLA and was shared widely online over the course of two weeks. A total of 4,970 responses were recieved and analysed.

Research findings

The findings of this research, along with our previous research, show that landlords in principle do not oppose longer-term tenancies. However, to be encouraged to offer a longer tenancy to those tenants that desire or need them, there needs to be broader reform. For longer-term tenancies to be successfully implemented, there needs to be:

1. Joined-up policy-making across different Government departments that harnesses the potential of the private rented sector
2. Comprehensive reform of the current routes to regain possession, including the speed and cost of the Section 8 process and the development of a new housing court. 77% of landlords reported this was the main barrier to longer-term tenancies.
3. Positive taxation measures of private landlords that compare with other modern private rented sectors, such as Germany. These measures should encourage landlords to invest in their portfolios over the long-term.