Scanlon, Kathleen and Kochan, Ben, eds. (2011) Towards a sustainable private rented sector: the lessons from other countries. London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK. ISBN 9780853284666
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Abstract
"Towards a sustainable private rented sector" compares the UK private rental market with those in fifteen other industrialised nations. It found that security of tenure is a key factor in countries – such as Germany – where private renting is seen as a practical choice, even for middle-income families. Kath Scanlon, Research Fellow at LSE London, explains: "Households are unlikely to choose a privately-rented house or flat as a long-term family home or a place to live in retirement if they are faced with the uncertainty of a short-term lease and aware they could be asked to leave at short notice, at any time." monopoly housesAssured tenancies which allow tenants to stay in a property indefinitely do exist in the UK but are very little used. This is because buy-to-let mortgage lenders often require that properties be let on shorthold (six month) tenancies, and many landlords want the flexibility to sell a property with vacant possession if house prices go up. There is also a lack of demand from tenants who may not be aware that these types of tenancies exist Kath Scanlon said: "In lots of other countries indefinite tenancies are the 'default' and this encourages better-off households to consider the private rental market as an option. With homeownership currently not a possibility for many in the 'squeezed middle' policymakers should look at finding ways to encourage the use of more secure tenancy agreements where there could be a demand." Private renting now accounts for 17 per cent of homes in England and this proportion has been rising rapidly because of the difficulties facing those who want to buy but cannot because of the current financial crisis, a shortage of social housing and demand from mobile households. The research also highlights that encouraging single ownership of apartment blocks could help ensure that investment in private renting was more attractive to landlords in the private rental market. A range of investors would be attracted to these types of properties and increase the supply of housing for rent. Single ownership of blocks would have the additional benefit of bringing some economies of scale to the management of properties, particularly the maintenance of common areas and the replacement of capital equipment. The research also points out that the tax incentives for private landlords in the UK are less generous than in many other countries. Most UK landlords are individuals or smaller companies. Allowing them to offset rental losses against other types of income, as is common elsewhere, might help expand the supply of good quality rented housing.
| Item Type: | Book |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www2.lse.ac.uk/geographyAndEnvironment/rese... |
| Additional Information: | © 2011 London School of Economics and Political Science |
| Divisions: | LSE London |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Mar 2014 15:41 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Sep 2024 14:40 |
| Funders: | Higher Education Innovation Fund |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/56070 |
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