The government has actually accepted an industry body’s proposals to get to grips with anti-social tenants who make neighbours and fellow tenants’ lives a misery.

MP Felicity Buchan delivered her first speech as housing minister for the private rented sector to the audience at the industry body’s annual conference. She attempted to reassure the attendees of the government’s aim to bolster grounds for landlords to tackle anti-social renters upon Section 21 repossessions being abolished under the Renters Reform Bill, which will be presented to parliament early next year.

Buchan has agreed to the trade body’s proposal to hold a meeting with key stakeholders on behalf of landlords, local authorities, the police and tenants to establish plans to make sure quick and effective action can be taken against anti-social renters.

The housing minister also outlined the government’s pledge to reform the PRS which will help tenants and responsible landlords, but she said the government understands the misgivings of its reforms on the student housing sector.

She told the audience the government’s intention of making sure that the court system will work. “properly and efficiently” when Section 21 is scrapped.

One saving grace was when Buchan said that PRS rent controls will not be introduced in England as it will cause “disinvestment in the sector, which is not good for anyone”.

A spokesman for the trade body, says: “We have made clear that more needs to be done to ensure the behaviour of anti-social tenants can be tackled effectively when Section 21 goes.

“We therefore welcome the minister’s acceptance of our proposal for a roundtable on the issue. It is vital that all key stakeholders representing landlords, tenants, the police and others can develop clear and workable plans to ensure neighbours and fellow tenants alike are not left at the mercy of nightmare tenants.”

Richard Merrick of PIMS, says:” Try telling other parties that rent controls do not work as in the it nearly wiped out the sector when by the 80s only 8 per cent of housing was provided by the PRS.