Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown speaks in the debate on the Renters (Reform) Bill raising concerns that, particularly in rural areas, landlords are already deciding that letting their properties is too much trouble and are selling them, resulting in fewer and fewer properties for young people to rent.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con)
In rural areas such as mine where housing is already very expensive, more and more landlords are already deciding that letting their properties out is not worth the candle. They will therefore sell them, and the effect will be that there are fewer and fewer properties to rent. Those that are available will therefore go up and up in price and our youngsters will struggle to get on to the rental ladder.
Anthony Mangnall (Totnes) (Con)
I thank my hon. Friend for making that point. It is one that I will come on to, in terms of both the impact that the Bill will have on the attractiveness of short-term lets and the bureaucracy and hassle that will arise from this legislation.