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NLA National Conference 2008

Operating in today’s market: future prospects for landlords

The first NLA National Conference focused on what it means to be a landlord in today’s market and the opportunities for landlords in the future.

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Keynote speech

Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government.

Mr Wright said the Government was committed to not bringing forward knee-jerk legislation that would hamper the growth of the sector but, instead would target the rogue operators which give responsible landlords a bad name.

In a thought-provoking speech to landlord delegates, the Minister said the private-rented sector had become a "great tool to help house the people of this country" and that he wanted to see the sector "not just survive over the coming months and years but thrive."

Read the full speech >>

Independent Review of the Private-Rented Sector: implications for landlords

Dr Julie Rugg, Centre of Housing Policy, York University

Dr Rugg, co-author of the recently published independent review of the private-rented sector, spoke about the need for landlords to view what they do as a business and not purely as an investment vehicle.

She reaffirmed how little evidence had been presented to support the view that retaliatory eviction was widespread and that ‘studentification' had become a major national problem.

Operating in today’s market: future prospects for landlords

Our panel of experienced landlords and industry experts discussed the housing market and predicted future trends in a Question Time style debate. Panel members included:

• Professor Tony Crook, Professor of Housing Studies, University of Sheffield
• Christine Darvill, successful portfolio landlord and Regional Representative, National Landlords Association
• Andrew Heywood, Deputy Head of Policy, Council of Mortgage Lenders
• Anthony Lock, successful portfolio landlords and Director, National Landlords Association.

Future of the Private-Rented Sector:
the NLA vision of the future

Simon Gordon, Head of Communications, National Landlords Association set out the NLA’s key policy themes over the coming year.