IEA Director of Public Policy and Communications Matthew Lesh has been quoted in The Independent criticising new renters’ reform proposals which would end so-called ‘no-fault’ evictions.

Matthew said:

“Making it harder to evict residents is only likely to make it harder to rent.

“Landlords will inevitably be more selective about who they offer properties to and charge higher rents when they cannot quickly evict bad tenants. That is likely to disproportionately hurt those who are poorer, younger and from minority communities.

“Anti-landlord measures, including tax changes, and higher interest rates, are already contributing to many withdrawing properties from the market. New eviction rules and burdensome regulatory standards will only worsen the rental property shortage and record-high rents.

“The housing crisis won’t be solved by fiddling with rental rules. Britain needs fundamental planning reform to allow more homes to be built where people want to live – anything else will continue to see renters offered poorer quality homes at too high prices.”

Read the full article here.

Matthew’s comments were also featured in Yahoo! and The Daily Brit.