Millions of renters in England are one step closer to gaining enhanced rights following the formal approval of a new law.
The Renters’ Rights Bill has received Royal Assent, a move set to impact 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords, according to the Government.
Key provisions of the Bill include the elimination of Section 21 “no fault” evictions and expanded rights regarding pet ownership.
It is important to note that these regulations are not yet in effect and will exclusively apply to rentals in England. Additional details on the rollout of the reforms will be disclosed in the upcoming weeks.
Termed a “generational upgrade to renters’ rights” by the Renters’ Reform Coalition, which comprises Shelter, Generation Rent, and Citizens Advice, the changes have garnered positive feedback.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has pledged to collaborate with the Government to ensure that the reforms are executed equitably and feasibly.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will put an end to Section 21 evictions, a practice allowing landlords to terminate tenancies without cause.
Landlords will be prohibited from selling or occupying a property within the initial 12 months of a tenancy. Subsequently, a four-month notice period will be required.
Eviction of tenants will be permissible if they fall into arrears, cause property damage, or engage in antisocial behavior.
Under current guidelines, landlords can issue a Section 8 eviction notice if a tenant owes two months’ rent, a threshold that will be raised to three months.
Tenants served with a Section 8 notice will have four months to vacate the premises, following which a court may decide on possession.
All tenancies will transition to being periodic or rolling, departing from the usual fixed-term agreements spanning six months to two years.
Tenants will have enhanced rights to request pet accommodation, with landlords mandated to consider such requests reasonably.
In cases of perceived unfair refusal of pet requests, tenants can escalate the matter to the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman for resolution.
Discrimination against benefit claimants or families with children by landlords or estate agents will be outlawed, although all tenants will still undergo reference and affordability checks.
A ban on landlords and estate agents demanding rents higher than the advertised rate will curtail bidding wars that drive individuals out of affordable housing.
Mandatory publication of asking rents by landlords and estate agents will be enforced, with offers exceeding this rate deemed unlawful.
