Millions of renters in England have moved closer to gaining enhanced rights following the formal approval of a new law.
The Renters’ Rights Bill has now received Royal Assent, a development projected to impact 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords in the country.
Key provisions in the Bill include the elimination of Section 21 “no fault” evictions and expanded rights for tenants with pets.
While these regulations are not yet in effect and will specifically apply to rentals in England, further details on the implementation of the reforms will be disclosed in the upcoming weeks.
Described by the Renters’ Reform Coalition as a “generational upgrade to renters’ rights,” the changes have been lauded by organizations like Shelter, Generation Rent, and Citizens Advice.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has expressed commitment to collaborating with the Government to ensure that the reforms are executed equitably, proportionately, and feasibly.
Six key features of the Renters’ Rights Bill have been identified:
1. Section 21 evictions will be prohibited, preventing landlords from terminating tenancies without providing a reason.
2. Landlords will be restricted from selling or moving into a property within the initial 12 months of a tenancy, after which a four-month notice period will be required.
3. Tenants can be evicted if they fall behind on rent, cause property damage, or engage in antisocial behavior.
4. The threshold for issuing a Section 8 eviction notice due to rent arrears will be raised from two to three months.
5. Following a Section 8 notice, tenants will have four months to vacate the property, with the possibility of court intervention if they fail to comply.
6. All tenancies will transition to be “periodic” or rolling, as opposed to fixed-term agreements.
Furthermore, tenants will have increased rights to request having pets in the property, subject to the landlord’s consideration without unreasonable refusal. In case of disputes over pet requests, tenants can seek resolution through the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman.
Additionally, discrimination against benefit claimants or families with children by landlords and estate agents will be outlawed. However, all tenants will still undergo reference and affordability assessments.
To prevent bidding wars and ensure fair access to accommodation, landlords and estate agents will no longer be able to solicit offers above the advertised rent. They will also be mandated to disclose an asking rent for their properties, with offers exceeding this rate deemed illegal.