Propertymark and four other major parts of the property industry have spoken out against the Renters Rights Bill.

The agents’ trade body has been joined by the National Residential Landlords Association and the British Property Federation, as well as industry provider Goodlord and agency Leaders Romans Group.

Ahead of today’s final stages of the Bill going through the House of Commons – likely this afternoon – the organisations say in a joint statement:

“We accept that Section 21 repossessions are ending, and support measures to ensure every rental property is of a decent quality. However, the government’s proposed changes risk making access to rented housing harder for the very people we want to support.

“Limiting rent in advance, combined with frozen housing benefit rates and not enough rental housing will make it all but impossible for those with poor or no credit histories in the UK to prove their ability to sustain tenancies. 

“This includes international students, workers from overseas and those employed on a short-term or variable basis with an income that fluctuates.

“Cutting off any assurance landlords might seek when renting to those who cannot easily prove their ability to afford a tenancy is neither practical nor responsible. Those who will suffer are those most likely to struggle to pass affordability checks.”