Friday 10 November 2023
The Renters Reform has now passed its second reading in parliament. Here’s what you need to know in a snapshot…
‘Our reforms are focused on delivering greater security and certainty of quality accommodation for tenants while ensuring landlord's rights and investments are protected.’ – UK Parliament.
Here are the reforms which are planned and some which have already happened:
- Scrapped proposals to require landlords to meet EPC C from 2025 in their private rented properties.
- Protecting the student market. We recognise that the student market is cyclical and that landlords must be able to guarantee possession each year for a new set of tenants, and we will introduce a new ground for possession to facilitate this.
- Deliver our manifesto commitment to abolish section 21, ‘no-fault evictions, ’ to provide greater security and certainty for tenants.
- Strengthen landlords’ grounds for possession – adding new grounds and reducing notice periods for the most egregious grounds where the tenants are at fault.
- Speed up the court process so landlords can quickly regain possession of their property if a tenant refuses to move out. The government will not commence the abolition of section 21 until stronger possession grounds and a new court process are in place.
- Help landlords demonstrate compliance and navigate their responsibilities by creating a Privately Rented Property Portal.
- The Privately Rented Property Portal will also support councils to enforce against unscrupulous landlords – squeezing out the criminal landlords who undercut the responsible majority.
- Support quicker and cheaper resolution in incidences where there are disputes with a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman service that will provide fair, impartial, and binding resolution.
- Protect landlords’ ability to increase rent yearly in line with market levels while preventing revenge or forced evictions.
- Extend the Decent Homes Standard to the private rental sector so that homes for rent meet the minimum standard for housing we would all expect.
- Give tenants the legal right to request a pet, subject to pet insurance to cover any damage to the property, while being clear on the cases in which a landlord could reasonably refuse.
- Make it illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to tenants in receipt of benefits or with children while protecting landlords’ final say over who they rent to.
- Strengthen local councils’ enforcement powers and introduce a new requirement for councils to report on enforcement activity – to help target criminal landlords.
We have undertaken extensive consultation and analysis to make sure we are striking the right balance between the rights of landlords and tenants.’ – UK Parliament.
Do you agree with the statement above and the renter reforms outlined? We’d love to know your thoughts. Get in touch with us by emailing info@ereproperty.com