Renters' Reform Bill Proving Divisive

A new law tabled in Parliament looking to ban landlords from evicting?tenants with no justification is part of a long-discussed overhaul of the private rental sector in England. Tenants would also be given the legal right to request a pet in their home?and it would be made?illegal for a landlord to refuse tenancies to families with children, or those in?receipt of benefits.

The bill has been described as a 'huge opportunity' by housing campaigners to improve the lives of the 11 million renters in England who currently face record rents. Data from Hamptons shows that?the average rent on a newly let home outside the capital increased by 7.8% annually to ￡1,002 in April, whilst the average rent in the capital now stands at a record ￡2,200 with the average monthly rent rising 11.1% year-on-year across Great Britain in April.

The most significant change in the bill is the abolishment of Section 21 - a key piece of legislation which allows landlords to evict tenants without providing?justification. Research from Shelter shows that nearly 230,000 private renters had been served with a no-fault eviction notice since April 2019.

The Conservative Party initially promised to ban the evictions in their 2019 election manifesto, however Housing Secretary Michael Gove has only just announced the plans. Mr Gove described the current rental market as "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." He stated that the government is determined to tackle these injustices by offering this new bill,?which is one with quality, affordability, and fairness at heart.