Private Properties to Rent

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:12 pm on 11 October 2022.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:12, 11 October 2022

Well, Llywydd, I'm familiar with the work of the National Residential Landlords Association. They're calling on the UK Government to increase local housing allowances, to end their freeze on housing benefits and to end the five-week wait for universal credit at the beginning of a claim, and also that the advance payment that tenants might get should be converted from a loan to a grant so tenants do not automatically fall into debt at the outset. So, I agree with all of those points made by the NRLA and hope that the Member will wish to convey those points to the Government that's responsible for them.

She is right, of course, that there is a real risk that landlords will exit the buy-to-rent market. Why are they doing that? Well, it's because of the rapidly rising costs of borrowing money that they face. Had you borrowed £200,000—[Interruption.]