VOLA Response to Shelter’s Interest in Strengthening Engagement with the Private Rented Sector

VOLA welcomes recent changes in leadership at Shelter and indications that shelter is now seeking to take a convening role to get different parts of the industry around the table and work as a collective to improve the system and end homelessness.

At a time when the UK faces significant pressures on housing supply, it is essential that organisations across the sector work together to support fair, sustainable, and effective outcomes for both tenants and landlords.

To avoid further reductions in available rental homes and to help alleviate the broader housing crisis, VOLA believes this renewed engagement presents an opportunity for Shelter and VOLA to work side‑by‑side on shared goals. In particular, we would encourage collaboration on:

• A fair and workable Ombudsman system that supports transparency and accountability while recognising the realities and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants.

• The unnecessary ongoing implementation of selective licencing doubling up on many of the requirements of the Renters Rights Act, increasing costs and further restricting supply.

• A balanced and consistent approach to tenancy reforms, including ensuring the replacement of Section 21 reflects a fair and timely process for legitimate possession cases.

• Meaningful discussion around the consequences of non‑payment of rent, recognising that while tenants deserve protection from unfair treatment, landlords must also have reliable mechanisms to recover income needed to maintain safe, compliant homes. But also the provision of honest and real world consequences for tenants such as the far reaching and devastating results of CCJ’s / defaults and ‘intentionally homeless status’

If the future relationship is to be built on fairness, it must operate in both directions. Constructive dialogue, shared evidence, and real‑world understanding of challenges across the PRS will be essential in shaping policies that genuinely work for everyone.

VOLA stands ready to engage positively with Shelter and other stakeholders to support a private rented sector that is fair, functional, and sustainable for the long term.