Britain's most influential financial services organisation has backed parts of Labour's tenants' bill of rights.
UKFinance, which represents more than 300 mortgage lenders and financial services companies, has called on the government to review Local Housing Allowance annually to bring it in line with rents, create a register of rental property owners and offer tax incentives to encourage landlords to make green improvements to their properties.
Some of these demands are included in Labour's Bill, with UK Finance saying a rental sector database would “reduce the compliance burden on landlords and help local authorities, mortgage lenders and tenants identify unscrupulous landlords and substandard properties”. 
The group is making its rent demands as part of a wide-ranging list of demands it will put forward to the New Labour government.
UK Finance says it also wants to work with the government to:
To support home ownership, we will make permanent the current temporary nil rate band on stamp duty up to £425,000, widen access to shared ownership schemes and consider whether prudential rules introduced after the global financial crisis are making it too difficult for potential borrowers to obtain a mortgage.
We will help 'last minute' buyers through our independent advice services, support the housing needs of older homeowners and minimise upfront costs for those choosing to downsize, including stamp duty exemptions. The Government's housing targets must include decent homes in the places older buyers want to live.
An overhaul of the planning system will support the housebuilding industry by ensuring it is simpler and more rules-based. Faster development times and consistency in planning decisions will help give developers the certainty they need to meet the Government's new homes targets.
Charles Law, mortgage director at UK Finance, said: “Everyone needs safe, secure and affordable housing, so we welcome the Government acting swiftly to reduce the UK's housing shortage and help more people buy a home.”
“But given the scale of the challenge, strong action is needed from both the public and private sectors across the whole of the UK housing market.”
“Our new report sets out a range of recommendations which complement the Government's plans, including simplifying the planning process, removing some of the barriers faced by first-time homebuyers and ensuring the housing needs of our ageing population are met. It is also vital that we improve standards in the private rented sector and support the social housing sector and the low-income rented sector.”
The full report can be downloaded here.
