Renters Reform Bill

by Heather Hilder on
Renters Reform Bill

“Renters Reform Bill”

Not yet law

Don’t panic…

You may have noticed in the mainstream press the topic of The Renters Reform Bill. The first point I want to highlight is that this is not yet law in the UK. There is still time to influence positive changes and amendments to the Renters Reform Bill.

I, together with my colleagues at Callaways,  am attending meetings and providing feedback to our professional membership body (Propertymark).  This feedback along with other feedback from up and down the country is being fed back to senior officials at DLUHC and at select committee session in Parliament.

The objective of the Bill is to ensure renters have access to a secure and decent home and that landlords retain the confidence to repossess their properties where they need to.

The Bill’s ‘will’

The Bill will:

  • Abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and reform tenancy agreements where all assured tenancies are periodic.
  • Introduce more possession grounds where tenants are at fault, e.g., in cases of anti-social behaviour and repeat rent arrears.
  • Provide stronger protections against retaliatory evictions.
  • Introduce a new Ombudsman that all private landlords must join.
  • Introduce a new Property Portal including a database of residential landlords and privately rented properties in England.
  • Give tenants the right to request a pet in their property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse.

Government measures

Further measures the UK Government will legislate for include:

  • Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector.
  • Make it illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to tenant in receipt of benefits or with children.
  • Strengthen local council’s enforcement powers and introduce a new requirement for councils to report on enforcement activity.

Landlord clients are asking me what positive action they can take to ensure the final bill is balanced for landlords and tenants.  My advice is to make contact with your MP and raise this point with them, they will be voting on this in Parliament!

I will keep you posted with any further news we have on this subject.

Feel free to arrange a call with me on 01273 735237 or email James.Duffy@callaways.co.uk if you have any concerns about your current rental property.

James Duffy