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'It’s good news for tenants that rents have fallen this month. However, demand for properties has also dropped. The ongoing uncertainties of Brexit and the General Election have caused people to hold off on their property search until some political clarity is reached, which has led to this fall in demand.
'Now that the election has brought some political stability, tenants will likely be looking for properties again and the new Government must recognise the importance of making the market attractive for both tenants and landlords. They must be very careful about reforming Section 21 which could cause supply to plummet, and if it is to be abolished, Section 8 must be reformed first and a new specialist Housing tribunal created. Without this, supply will almost certainly fall which will have the consequential effect of raising rents.
'Further, the Government should seek to reassure tenants by implementing the recommendations set out by the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) working group; something we have long called for. These are substantial changes, but it’s important that the Government ensures everyone in the industry is qualified and adheres to a strict code of practice'.
David CoxARLA Propertymark Chief Executive