24Oct
Rugg report recommends boosting buy-to-let
Improving the provision of high quality buy-to-let accommodation is
a major priority, a new report has concluded.
The Rugg report, written by Julie Rugg from the University of York,
stated that private rental market should not be a "third" choice
way of meeting housing requirements and suggested ways to improve
the quality and provision in this sector.
Initiatives recommended included streamlined regulation and faster
procedures for redress and dispute resolution, an improvement of
local authorities' understanding and promotion of the sector and
tax incentives to encourage good landlords to buy more
properties.
Responding to the report, housing minister Margaret Beckett
welcomed the findings and affirmed that the private rental sector
plays a "really important role" in housing provision.
The report was also welcomed by the property industry, with the
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors calling on the government
to take up the recommendations in an "open-minded" fashion.
Centre for Cities said it agreed with the call for more rental
provision as this would increase worker mobility at a time when the
economy is facing recession.
