No fault evictions will be banned and renters will receive greater protections and security from eviction.
These and other measures are part of the government’s Renter’s Rights Bill, published today, which it says will level the playing field between tenants and landlords.
In a major overhaul of renters’ rights, the Bill will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions for new and existing tenancies, extend the decent homes standard and introduce Awaab’s Law into the private rented sector (PRS) and end blanket bans for those on benefits or with children.
Other measures include a ban on rental bidding wars and allowing tenants to have pets.
There will also be a ban on in-tenancy rent increases written in to contracts meaning landlords will only be allowed to raise the rent once a year, and to the market rate.
A new Private Rented Sector Database will also be created to help landlords understand their obligations for compliance and provide tenants the information they need to make informed choices for new tenancies. It will also enable councils to focus enforcement where it is needed most.
Sheldon Bosley Knight’s associate director Nik Kyriacou said: “The abolition of Section 21 won’t make as large an impact than the fear of no fixed tenancies, although the courts which will be under a lot of stress which won’t help.
“As for the no fixed tenancies, it should be done on a case by case basis and tenants should be given the choice as to how long they want to take the tenancy for. A blanket ban gives neither party any choice.
“Overall, these big changes proposed coming in so suddenly will force landlords to exit the market which will only exacerbate the supply and demand balance leaving tenants with fewer places to live and higher rents.”
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner MP said: “Most landlords act in a responsible way but a small number of unscrupulous ones are tarnishing the reputation of the whole sector.
“We must overhaul renting and rebalance the relationship between tenant and landlord. This Bill will do just that and tenants can be reassured this Government will protect them.”
