Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is under pressure to provide evidence that the Renters Rights Bill will do anything to contribute to her government’s house building targets.

Earlier this week Tories in the House of Commons accused Rayner of “bullying tactics” to push through the Bill.

And now Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, says: “Property professionals from up and down the country continue to be left wondering how this legislation will help meet the much-needed demand for homes for people to rent, as overall buy-to-let investment has fallen to levels not seen since 2007. 

“In the first quarter of this year, investors purchased just 10% of homes sold across Great Britain.”

He says his organisation and agents accept the need for reform, but he adds: “The proposals continue to cause widespread concern as to the viability of landlords continuing to operate within the private rented sector. Reports show that 88% of landlords have no confidence in the current private rental sector due primarily to the Bill itself and more than a third plan to leave the sector altogether this year.

“We continue to make the case for evidence-based policies that support a flexible and fair private rented sector for all and urge the UK government to recognise the unintended consequences of the Bill, rather than trying to rush this legislation into action.”