The government has announced its long-expected proposals for reforming the private rented section. The Renters Reform Bill, unveiled on 16 June, would end Section 21 no-fault evictions.
Other reforms in the white paper include an end to blanket bans on people claiming benefits and those with children. Landlords will also be obliged to consider reasonable requests for pets in rental properties.
In addition, the decent homes standard will be extended to the sector, meaning rentals must be free from serious health and safety hazards and kept in a good state of repair, with clean, appropriate and useable facilities.
Tenants will have stronger powers to challenge poor practice and unjustified rent increases and be able to obtain rent refunds for unhealthy or unsafe homes. If the bill becomes law, tenants will be able to leave poor-quality housing without being liable for the rent. Notice periods for rent increases will double, and councils will have more powers to tackle rogue landlords.
Details of how the no-fault eviction ban would work have not been released. However, in Scotland, where the law has already been changed, there are 17 official grounds for eviction, including where a landlord wants to move into the property.
Levelling Up and Housing Secretary, Michael Gove said the bill offers “greater clarity and support” to landlords, with measures including a private-renters’ ombudsman to settle disputes and moves to ensure landlords can recover their properties from antisocial tenants.
The Housing charity Shelter called the bill a “game-changer” but National Residential Landlords Association chief executive Ben Beadle said the detail of the bill “must retain the confidence of responsible landlords, as well as improving tenants’ rights.”
Kubie Gold Associates are an independent local firm of estate agents specialising in the Rental, Sale and Property Management of Residential Property in the North-West and Central London market
