The revised Renters’ Rights Bill, which has finally been published and entered parliament, has been praised as a “stronger” piece of legislation than the previous version, and which will better protect renters in the private rental sector. This is expected to include a ban on no-fault evictions to be in place by Summer 2025.
Having initially been proposed under the previous Conservative Government, the Renters’ Rights Bill was delayed and failed to be passed before the July election. However, a revised bill under the new Labour Government was finally introduced to Parliament last Wednesday, 11th September 2024, and is widely agreed to provide better protections for tenants in the private rental sector, but at the same time some campaigners have warned that more help is needed to protect tenants from unreasonable rent increases.
Overdue legislation to prevent no-fault evictions
Many renters have faced homelessness in the wake of being evicted from rented accommodation, with landlords not currently being required to state a reason. Groups representing landlords have issued caution over the radical change which has been described as “painfully overdue”, but fears have been managed with a reminder that landlords still have robust grounds to regain possession of their property if:
- They want to sell the property
- They want to move into the property themselves
- The tenant is guilty of anti-social behaviour
- The tenant has built up rent arrears
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook hopes the bill will pass quickly through the House of Commons to become working legislation from next Summer. However, rental campaign groups have commented that the bill could do more to prevent unreasonable rent increases. At the moment, it is expected that the Bill will ban in-tenancy rent increases and limit any increases to once per year, and to whatever is the market rate. However, campaigners want to go further than this. Housing charity Shelter has said that rent increases should be limited to inflationary rises or in line with wage growth, otherwise renters were still exposed to colossal rent increases which could force them out of rented accommodation.
The Renters’ Rights Bill was still welcomed by rental organisations, however, with comments suggesting the bill and its protection against no-fault eviction, should give tenants more confidence to challenge disrepair issues and other forms of poor treatment from landlords. Other proposed changes in the bill include:
- Longer notice periods for tenants who are evicted
- Longer periods at the start of a tenancy in which a tenant is protected from eviction
- Extending Awaab’s Law to the private rental sector in order to fix damp, mould and other disrepair issues within a specified time frame
- A ban on ‘bidding wars’ in which landlords could accept a tenant who offers to pay more rent. Landlords need to specify a rental price and only accept that published rate.
- Preventing landlords from blocking tenants who are on benefits or who have children
Dedicated legal support in residential disputes
Our residential property team strongly welcome this new legislation, which has been a long-time coming. It gives vital protections for people in the rental sector, particularly those who are vulnerable and on low income, and who have previously felt they had no rights to protect them from eviction.
At Ison Harrison we have a dedicated team of residential property dispute solicitors, who can help you if you are faced with a no-fault eviction or if you have been evicted and feel you have strong grounds that it was unfair. We can support you in any dispute with a landlord, particularly over tenancy agreements and issues such as housing disrepair, so contact our team at Ison Harrison today.
