The government is currently pushing forward reform to the rental sector
The government is currently pushing forward reform to the rental sector
A Conservative councillor said private landlords had been “absolutely battered” in recent years as he hit out at past and present governments.
The comments made by Conservative councillor Tony Cox, who is also a landlord, came during a debate around whether to approve changes to the Property Pool Plus social housing allocation scheme. The committee unanimously agreed to approve the recommendations put forward.
At the economy, regeneration and housing committee meeting, Cllr Cox described the situation in social housing and long waiting lists like “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic though praised the work of council officers. However, he said the vast majority of rented property in the Wirral is provided by the private sector.
The 2021 Census shows 15.4% of people in Wirral rent with a social landlord while 19% of people have private landlords. However Cllr Cox said he’d read reports there was going to be a 24% reduction in private landlords as a result of changes the government is bringing in.
The UK government under the Conservatives introduced a reform bill for the rental sector in 2023. This never passed Parliament but the current Labour government reintroduced a similar bill following the 2024 general election with additional rights included.
According to the government, the bill proposes to abolish section 21 no fault evictions, gives tenants more security, introduces a private rented sector watchdog, introduces Awaab’s law, and gives tenants stronger rights to request a pet. Council enforcement would also be expanded.
Data published by the government suggest the number of Section 21 notices issued has increased in recent years. According to housing charity Shelter, no fault evictions were served to roughly 500 private renters every day in 2024.
Cllr Cox said he wasn’t being political, adding: “The upcoming legislation that [landlords] are about to deal with, some of it for the better, some of it most definitely for the worse. In the five year plan they’re talking about a 33% reduction.
“That is only going to exacerbate what you’re actually seeing and the challenge is to actually find more registered social landlords.”
He said: “The reality is that since 2017, private landlords have been absolutely battered by subsequent governments and it’s about to continue,” adding: “The pressures are only going to get worse.”
Cllr Cox called for more data going forward about the reasons behind increases in homelessness, arguing some people were having to report being homeless because landlords are selling their properties. The Hoylake and Meols councillor said he had helped a member of the public who had been in this situation.
During the debate, Green councillor Jo Bird raised concerns about the length of people on waiting lists with some waiting over two years and called for more social housing. Responding to a question about supply, officers said the number of new social homes had remained static in recent years.
Labour councillor Janette Williamson said the situation with private rentals was “forcing people to live in one room with a shared bathroom or kitchen facilities which is just not acceptable in 2025. It really is and these are working people.” She praised the council’s support for those leaving care and support for domestic violence victims when it came to housing.
During the meeting, the council also approved five more selective licensing areas as part of a scheme to enforce better housing standards and crackdown on rogue landlords. These are for areas in central Birkenhead, south Egremont, Hamilton Square, lower Tranmere, Tranmere Lairds, and north Tranmere.
