VOLA Position statements

RRA Enforcement

VOLA finds the new RRA statutory guidance of 13 November 2025 clear and comprehensive. We see no reason for local authorities to deviate from it, or to refer to any other guidance at the point in the enforcement process where it becomes relevant.
However, we regard the adoption by some local authorities of an unofficial model civil penalty policy distributed by ACEHO as inappropriate. We have particular concerns that it has significant potential to lead to improper enforcement practice – that is, practices inconsistent with the Sentencing Council's General Guidelines and the new statutory guidance.

Rent Caps

The housing sector suffers from structural long term issues which cannot be alleviated with the sort of measures sometimes suitable for temporary application such as rent-capping.

Rent-capping will inevitably drive reductions in PRS supply, worsening availability and homelessness.

Renters on the tightest budgets will be most impacted as it will be property attracting the lowest rents that will be withdrawn disproportionately from the market as PRS shrinks.

Mediation as an alternative to Eviction

Claims for re-possession cannot always be avoided, but whenever there is an issue with potential to lead to re-possession proceedings (rent arrears, reports of repeated ASB, breach of contract, etc) and communications between landlord and tenant reflect distrust, readily available independent mediation should be considered at the earliest practical juncture, rather than waiting for matters to escalate.

Energy Efficiency in the PRS

The Voice of Landlords Associations (VOLA) supports genuine improvements to housing quality, comfort and energy performance. However, the current direction of EPC policy is failing to achieve its stated aims and is actively causing harm to tenants, landlords, and the private rented sector as a whole.

Council Advice to Tenants Being Lawfully Evicted

Eviction of Tenants cannot always be avoided and when Repossession has been legally ordered by a Court, Housing Providers/Advice Organisations should not issue advice intended to ignore any Court Ruling. Poor Guidance will often lead to serious consequences for both Tenants and Landlords, often exacerbating problems in the future and inflating Costs.

Tenant Education and Awareness of Tenancy Obligations

Effective tenant education is fundamental to sustaining a fair, lawful and functional Private Rented Sector (PRS). Tenants must be supported to clearly understand their legal obligations, the financial and legal consequences of non compliance, and the long term impacts of rent arrears, County Court Judgments (CCJs), property neglect and eviction