The long awaited Renters’ Reform Bill has been delayed but, what it promises will shake up the industry making it much fairer. In this article we are providing a main overview of what we'll expect to change.
What’s in the Renters’ Reform Bill and why its a big deal?
If you are renting at the moment, these news are going to excite you. But, don’t get too excited... A new date for its publication hasn’t been set yet and it still needs to go through Parliament and become a law which could take 12 to 18 months.
Here’s what we expect to change:
‘No fault’ evictions will be banned.
- About 230,000 private renters have received a no-fault eviction notice from 2019 to 2023.
- ‘A tenancy will only end if the tenant ends it or if the landlord has a valid ground for possession’ - Link
Stronger power for renters to challenge unjustified rent rises.
Rolling contracts will become the new norm.
- Tenants will need to give a two months notice.
Rent increase notices will be doubled to two months.
- If a tenant has offered multiple months’ rent upfront, landlords would be legally required to pay it back if a tenancy ends earlier than the period paid for.
The Decent Home Standard will be extended to cover the private rented sector.
- The DHS states that public housing must be free from serious health and safety hazards. So, this is extended into the private sector as well.
Tenants to get access to information about their landlords and can rate them.
- Just 30% of landlords ‘are demonstrating good practice’.
‘DSS’ could be made illegal for landlords to refuse.
- 'DSS' refers to private tenants who claim benefits.
Pets would have to be considered by landlords.
- 45% of landlords were not letting to tenants with pets.
- Now landlords must consider the request and can’t unreasonably refuse it.
New Private Renters’ Ombudsman will settle disputes between renters and landlords way faster and cheaper, without going to court.
- All landlords will be required to join
All of the above are great news for renters who in the past couple of years have been left at the mercy of landlords.
Read more here.
Sourced articles: Zoopla & Evening Standard