Renters Reform Bill Pushing Forward Over The Next Few Days

Hello Readers,

This is one that’s been taking the headlines for over a year now, however it’s recently made a huge step forward with the next step in parliament taking place on Wednesday (24th April).

One to watch for sure and a spokesperson spokesperson from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities explained how:

“We are absolutely committed to the Renters (Reform) Bill, which will have its remaining stages in the House of Commons next week,”

“This Bill will abolish Section 21 evictions and deliver a fairer rented sector for tenants and landlords. We will continue to work across the sector to ensure it passes into law as soon as possible.”

I’m quite surprised at how it’s taken a leap forward, so maybe it’s something we will see happen this year (however, with summer recess being three months away, things will have to move quick).

The notes below outlines where the bill has got to and you will see that the next stage is for it to pass through the House of Lords (which arguably could see amendments).

Progressing the legislation through the House of Commons may encounter hurdles however, particularly concerning the need to satisfy a faction of 49 Conservative MPs who have signalled potential opposition unless certain concessions are incorporated.

These concessions encompass discontinuing selective licensing after the implementation of the Property Portal, which mandates the registration of all landlords and properties.

Additionally, they seek a postponement of the ban on Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions until court proceedings are expedited, and a requirement for tenants to remain in a property for a minimum of four months after Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) are replaced by ‘periodic’ or open-ended tenancies.

If you’d like to read the whole 162 page bill, you can do so here but I have summarised the main points in my previous blogs and pasted them below for you.

• June 2023 – Rental Reform Bill – Everything Landlords Need To Know
• October 2023 – Rental Reform Bill Roundup… Where Are We?

The key points included in the bill are:

1. No fault evictions under section 21 to be abolished with landlords not being able to evict tenants in the first six months.
2. Assured shorthold tenancies to be removed and replaced with assured tenancies as the norm; there will be a maximum tenancy period of one month.
3. Landlords will be given avenues to recover vacant possession of their properties in limited circumstances. This is when selling, moving in a close family member or where tenants do not wilfully pay rent.
4. Increased powers to evict anti-social tenants by broadening the disruptive and harmful activities that can lead to an eviction and making it quicker in instances of anti-social behaviour.
5. Double notice periods for statutory rent increases from one to two months, with a rent increase allowed only once per year.
6. Tenants given more rights to keep pets with a legal right to request a pet that the landlord must consider and cannot reasonably refuse (unless having a pet would be a breach of a leasehold covenant). Any tenants granted permission to have a pet will be required to take out pet insurance (to cover the landlord for any damage caused by the pet), however there is no comment about HMOs.
7. Introduction of a landlord ombudsman.
8. Property portal for landlords and properties.
9. Applying the ‘decent home standard’ to the private rental sector.
10. Bans on renting to children or those on benefits to be outlawed.
11. Emphasis on digitisation of court proceedings.

There are numerous hurdles however, including much needed reform of the court system as the changes could cause significant backlog and headache for landlords.

We shall see how the week pans out and as the bill passed through into law, I will consider preparing some resources for you to access that will tell you everything you need to know!

Hasan