Date Published 14 November 2014
Tenants in the private rented sector (PRS) are unconvinced by the major political parties' plans for the UK housing market.
This is according to a survey carried out by the National Landlords Association (NLA), which found 62 per cent of renters are unsure that whoever wins the election will be able to solve the country's housing crisis.
Despite being heavily criticised by figures within the PRS, it seems tenants have most faith in Labour, with 13 per cent saying the party has the right approach to housing.
Some eight per cent of respondents see UKIP as the best placed to solve the crisis and seven per cent pointed to the Conservatives. Three per cent of tenants highlighted the Green Party as having the right approach, while only two per cent said they think the Liberal Democrats are the best option.
Carolyn Uphill, chair at the NLA, stated: "These findings suggest that as a vote-winning strategy, pitching to renters is falling flat on its face. Tenants are at best undecided, or worse, have no faith in the ability of any of the parties to improve private housing across the UK."
Richard Price, executive director of the UK Association of Letting Agents, added: "These findings should serve as a wake up call for all the political parties."
Despite Labour being favoured by the greater number of tenants, the NLA was particularly critical of the party.
Ms Uphill suggested the party is engaging in "one-sided electioneering", while Mr Price claimed the results of the survey show its plans have failed to resonate with both the rental industry and tenants.
The latter once again hit out at Labour's plans to ban letting agents fees, saying this would likely result in landlords having to push up rents. He claimed the real issue is to ensure agency charges are fair and transparent, with tenants aware of what and when they have to pay from the outset.
@ Source By Gary Whittaker Rentman
