The Government has introduced a bill to reform the rental market, delivering a better deal for tenants and landlords alike.
The Renters (Reform) Bill will include a range of measures to provide better protections for the 11 million private renters by:
- abolishing section 21, or ‘no fault’, evictions
- giving tenants the right to request a pet, requiring that landlords must consider the request and not unreasonably refuse
- protecting against ‘backdoor evictions’ by preventing above market price rent increases – an independent tribunal will be able to adjudicate in disputes on this
- introducing a Privately Rented Sector Ombudsman, providing a fair resolution system that is cheaper than the courts for both renters and landlords
While the above measures will help to provide a fairer deal for tenants, the Bill also includes measures to support responsible landlords by:
- introducing comprehensive possession grounds to make it easier to repossess properties in cases where a tenant is at fault, including anti-social behaviour and repeat rent arrears
- digitising the process of repossession cases, helping to simplify and streamline the process
- creating a Private Rented Property Portal to help landlords and tenants understand their obligations
- allowing landlords to access pet insurance to cover damage caused by a tenant’s pet
Alongside the measures brought forward in this legislation, the Government has committed to bringing further legislation to apply a Decent Homes Standard, tackling the provision of substandard housing that does not meet basic requirements. The Decent Homes Standard will be developed in consultation with stakeholders in the coming months.
For more information on the Government’s plans to reform the rental sector and deliver improvements to the condition of privately rented properties, visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-introduces-landmark-reforms-to-deliver-fairer-private-rented-sector-for-tenants-and-landlords
