Industry News
Government introduces Bill designed to deliver a fairer Private Rented Sector for both tenants and landlords
T
he Government has formally begun the process of overhauling the rental market in England by introducing its
long awaited Renters’ (Reform) Bill to Parliament, which it hopes will deliver safer, fairer and higher quality homes. Te private rental sector has more than doubled in size in recent decades and is now home to about 11 million people, with upto two million landlords. Te key change grabbing the headlines is the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions which has driven an upsurge in homelessness. But the new Bill also makes it easier for landlords
to recover properties from tenants committing anti-social behaviour or who regularly withhold their rent, break their tenancy agreement or damage the property. Campaigners will be vigilant in their efforts to ensure any loopholes for evicting tenants on dubious grounds are closed and opportunities for large rent increases are removed. To ensure the new tenancy systems works
for landlords and tenants, the changes will be introduced alongside a reformed courts process. For the minority of evictions that do end up in the courts, more of the process will be digitised – which is expected to reduce delays. A new Ombudsman will be established with the
aim of providing quicker and cheaper resolutions to disputes, while a new digital Property Portal will enable landlords to understand their obligations and help tenants make better decisions when signing a new tenancy agreement. Te intention is to give confidence to good landlords, while driving the criminal minority out of business.
A NEW DEAL FOR TENANTS Housing Secretary Michael Gove said: “Too many renters are living in damp, unsafe, cold homes, powerless to put things right, and with the threat of sudden eviction hanging over them.” “Tis Government is determined to tackle these
injustices by offering a New Deal to those living in the Private Rented Sector; one with quality, affordability, and fairness at its heart.” “Our new laws will support the vast majority of
responsible landlords who provide quality homes to their tenants, while delivering our manifesto commitment to abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. Tis will ensure that everyone can live somewhere which is decent, safe and secure – a place they’re truly proud to call home.” Tenants will also be given the legal right to
request a pet in their home, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. Landlords will be able to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property.
Te Government will also bring forward
legislation as part of the Bill to: • Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time, giving renters safer, higher quality homes. Tis will help deliver the Government’s Levelling Up mission to halve the number of non-decent rented homes by 2030.
• Make it illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to tenants in receipt of benefits or with children – ensuring no family is unjustly discriminated against when looking for a place to live.
• Strengthen councils’ enforcement powers and introduce a new requirement for councils to report on enforcement activity – to help target criminal landlords.
Te Bill is a key part of the Government’s mission to level up across the country and follows the wider housing reforms in the Social Housing Regulation Bill and Building Safety Act. Tese address many of the issues identified following the Grenfell Tower tragedy on improving the safety and quality of social housing and how tenants are treated by their landlords.
FAIRNESS WILL BE KEY Dan Wilson Craw, acting director of Generation Rent, said: “Te Renters’ Reform Bill is a huge opportunity to improve the lives of the 11 million people who now rent from private landlords in England. Arbitrary Section 21 evictions make it impossible for tenants to put down roots and report problems about their home with confidence. Abolishing them will take away much of the stress of renting and improve communication and trust between tenants and landlords.” “Te new Property Portal and Ombudsman have the potential to make it much harder for
criminal landlords to operate. We look forward to reading the Bill and working with ministers and parliamentarians to make sure the legislation achieves what it sets out to do.” Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National
Residential Landlords Association, said: “We welcome the Government’s pledge to ensure landlords can swiſtly recover properties from anti- social tenants and those failing to pay their rent. Plans to digitise court hearings will also improve the speed at which legitimate possession cases are processed. Te NRLA will continue to work with the Government to ensure the detail of the Bill is fair for responsible landlords and tenants alike.” Michael Webb, head of policy & public affairs at
Battersea Cats & Dogs Home, said: “Tenants being unable to find anywhere to rent with their pet is sadly one of the most common reasons people bring their animals to Battersea. Not only will this Bill bring us one step closer to significantly reducing the number of dogs and cats we see being needlessly separated from their owners, it will also open up the many joys of pet ownership to millions of renters in the future. As this Bill now begins its journey through Parliament, we look forward to continuing to work with the Housing department, tenants and landlords to help ensure a fairer rental sector for pets and people alike.” Timothy Douglas, head of policy & campaigns at
Propertymark said: “Reforms to the private rented sector in England have been long awaited and the Bill will bring much needed clarity to letting agents, their landlords and tenants. Propertymark will support the Government to ensure the specific details work in practice for those on the ground, whilst providing both security and fairness for both parties of the rental agreement. It is also important implementation is well planned and managed as these reforms are significant for the sector.”
www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMMJune/July 2023 | 5
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