The Renters Rights Bill has been published this week; with the news the Government could introduce new rules as soon as next spring, for both new and existing tenancies.
In its First Reading in the Commons the Government announced plans to:
- End Section 21, the so-called ‘no fault eviction’ and abolish fixed-term tenancies – with a set of ‘robust’ new possession grounds requiring four months’ notice from landlords.
- Limit in-tenancy rent rises to a single annual increase capped at market levels
- Introduce a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector with fines of up to £7,000 for failing to meet standards
- Extend Awaab’s Law to private renting – setting clear timeframes within which landlords must make homes safe where they contain serious hazards
- Create a digital private rented sector database with information for landlords, tenants, and councils
- Set up a new ombudsman service that will provide fair, impartial and binding resolution to both landlords and tenants, reducing the need to go to court
- Strengthen tenants’ rights, including: ability to challenge rent increases, ending rental ‘bidding wars’, and the right to request a pet – as well as making discrimination against tenants in receipt of benefits or with children illegal when choosing who to let to.
Much of the content of the Bill, which covers England only, mirrors that in the previous government’s Renters (Reform) Bill. However, there are key differences, including:
- Changes will apply to both new and existing tenancies at the same time – expected by summer 2025
- Tenants will be able to give notice from day one of the tenancy
- Grounds such as the landlord needing to sell or move in will not be available in the first 12 months of the tenancy, and will require four months’ notice
- The mandatory rent arrears ground will now require three months’ arrears and four weeks’ notice
- Changes to the student possession ground, which will only apply to HMOs let entirely to students
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