Renters Reform Bill what you need to know

During the King’s Speech on Wednesday 17 July, the UK Government announced that it intended to legislate a new Renters’ Rights Bill.

What does the Renters’ Rights Bill mean for me if it becomes law?

For those who are renting property or intend to rent property, read on: The UK Government aims to change the law to offer stronger protection from landlords. Particularly those who may unfairly try to evict tenants. It also hopes to make the entire system easier for potential tenants. Especially those with pets and/or children to reside in rental properties. Also there will be better protection for tenants in rental homes suffering from damp and mould.

Why do the main political parties want to reform the private rented sector?

There is a general agreement among the main parties that tenants face a potential lack of security when they rent property.

Why did the last government fail to pass its own Renters’ Reform Bill?

The last government tried to implement the Renters’ (Reform) Bill which contained many provisions similar to what Labour are proposing with its own bill. This included making it harder for landlords to evict tenants and making it easier for those who owned pets.

However, they failed to pass it through parliament due to a lack of time needed before the General Election. There also wasn’t essential clarity on the precise content and how it might fully work in practice.

What obstacles could the UK Government face when enacting this law?

Currently, under a provision called Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, a landlord can evict a tenant by providing two months’ notice once their contract has ended. This is usually within a certain time frame or ‘fixed term’. This is the provision Labour wants to scrap. Therefore landlords will be prevented from asking tenants to leave unless they have broken a specific rule.

However, such a move could have the potential to cause unintended consequences. For example, the court system being overwhelmed with claims from landlords. This is why Propertymark (https://www.propertymark.co.uk/) believes there should be a separate housing court to process claims efficiently and effectively.

Jukes Estate Agents Harlow tend to agree

With so much legislation being proposed by the new UK Government, it is vital that consumers and landlords are protected throughout the lettings process. If a letting agent is Propertymark certified, then that means they have a suitable qualification and they are knowledgeable about how the law affects the housing sector.

Geoff Flewers, co owner of Jukes comments: “We have campaigned for balanced legislation when it comes to safeguarding the rights of both landlords and tenants.

“While many tenants do not deserve to feel at risk of losing the roof over their heads, there must also be adequate provisions in place to ensure the law provides fairness and balance to both tenants and landlords at all times. There must be a workable system in place that will not pile additional workload on an already under pressure court system.”