Brendan Geraghty, CEO of the Association for Rental Living (ARL), has expressed conditional support for Labour’s Renters Rights Bill. While he welcomes efforts to improve the rental experience and promote professionalism in the sector, he has voiced concerns about the proposal to abolish fixed-term assured tenancies in favour of periodic tenancies.

Geraghty argues that Build-to-Rent (BTR) already delivers high standards in renting, often exceeding what the bill aims to achieve. However, he believes the abolition of fixed-term tenancies could undermine BTR’s core principles of building stable, long-term communities. Fixed-term tenancies, he says, provide security for both investors and renters, fostering a sense of commitment and belonging crucial for successful placemaking, one of BTR’s pillars.

Moreover, he points out that periodic tenancies could attract transient renters who may not engage with BTR’s community-focused approach. Geraghty also highlights the need for significant improvements in the court system to handle increased workloads, especially with the proposed abolition of Section 21.

Geraghty calls for a detailed analysis of the bill’s potential consequences to ensure it doesn’t negatively impact the sector. His statement emphasizes the importance of aligning legislative changes with the needs of both investors and renters to maintain the success of BTR initiatives.