The Renters’ Rights Bill was published today (11/9/24) and introduces a series of reforms designed to increase protections for tenants while maintaining a balance that allows landlords to manage their properties effectively.
Here’s a breakdown of its key measures:
Abolition of Section 21 Evictions: The bill eliminates “no-fault” evictions (Section 21), moving to a simpler tenancy structure where all assured tenancies are periodic, meaning they have no fixed end date, providing tenants with greater security and the ability to challenge poor practices and unfair rent hikes without the fear of eviction.
Fair Possession Grounds: It reforms possession grounds to ensure they are fair to both tenants and landlords. Tenants will have more security, while landlords will still be able to recover their property in reasonable circumstances, like if they need to sell or move in. Additional safeguards protect tenants from misuse of these grounds.
Stronger Protections Against Unfair Rent Increases: The bill allows tenants to challenge excessive rent increases aimed at forcing them out, with independent tribunals able to intervene if rents are unfairly raised above market rates.
Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman: This will be a new independent body to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants quickly and fairly, with decisions that are binding, similar to the system used for social housing.
Private Rented Sector Database: A database will be created for landlords, allowing them to demonstrate compliance with legal obligations. Tenants can use this to make informed decisions, and it will aid councils in targeting enforcement.
Pet-Friendly Provisions: Landlords will have to consider tenants’ requests for pets and cannot unreasonably refuse them. To mitigate concerns, landlords will be able to request pet insurance to cover any potential damage caused by pets.
Decent Homes Standard: The bill will apply the same quality standards required for social housing (Decent Homes Standard) to the private rented sector, ensuring that rental homes meet safety and quality benchmarks.
Awaab’s Law: This measure requires landlords to address serious hazards in rental properties within legally defined timeframes to ensure tenant safety, inspired by tragic cases where unsafe conditions led to harm.
Anti-Discrimination: Landlords and letting agents will be prohibited from discriminating against tenants based on benefits or having children, ensuring fairer access to housing for all.
End to Rental Bidding: The bill makes it illegal for landlords or agents to accept or solicit bids over the advertised rent, ensuring transparency and fairness in the rental process.
Local Authority Enforcement: New measures expand local authorities’ powers to enforce regulations, with civil penalties and requirements to report on enforcement activities, ensuring that standards are upheld.
Strengthened Rent Repayment Orders: The bill strengthens rent repayment orders by extending them to cover superior landlords (those who sublet their properties), doubling the maximum financial penalty for violations, and ensuring that repeat offenders are required to repay the full amount owed.
The Government has stated that these reforms aim to create a fairer, more secure, and regulated private rented sector in the UK, improving conditions for tenants while allowing landlords to retain reasonable control over their properties.
The Bill can be seen here, and accompanying guide here.
Source: Property Notify
