The Renter’s Rights Bill – what do you need to know?

The King’s Speech on 17 July 2024 marked the opening of Parliament, and the new Labour Government. The new government proposed several changes in legislation, most considerably their take on the Renters Reform Bill which did not pass the second reading in the House of Lords, as the General Election put it on hold.

The new government are proposing the Renter’s Rights Bill (the “Bill”), which is intended to give greater rights and protections to people renting their homes. Like the previous bill, it intends to end ‘no fault’ evictions through the section 21 Housing Act 1988 (the “Act”) procedure. The main features of the Bill are as follows:

1. Abolishing the Section 21 procedure;
2. Enhancing rights and protections for tenants to challenge rent increases;
3. Imposing an obligation for landlords to reasonably consider the tenants request for pets;
4. Enforcement of ‘Awaab’s Law’, which will require landlords to set clear expectations on repair works;
5. Creating a central data base for local authorities, landlords and tenants to access updates/ information;
6. Ombudsman service – aimed to bring binding resolutions for landlords and tenants to avoid Court resources being exhausted.

The key feature of both the Bill and the Renters Reform Bill, is the notion and idea that the section 21 procedure should be abolished. The government pledges that in place of the section 21 procedure it will introduce ‘new, clear and expanded possession grounds’. Whilst the government has not yet released a draft version of what the Bill would look like, you might be concerned with how this may affect you? 

As a landlord, the new Bill is likely to introduce specific requirements/ conditions for you to evict your tenant. There may be less procedural requirements you need to comply with (i.e. a lot less paperwork), but you are likely to need a good reason to start the process. The incoming of the Ombudsman service, may also mean that there is a mechanism for evictions to be dealt with outside of Court, which is likely to minimise expenses and costs you may incur. There is a lot of uncertainty about what the Bill could mean, but it could bring a more streamlined process for landlords which is more effective in managing problem tenants.

As a tenant, the Bill is intended to introduce transparency and provide you with certainty. The abolition of the section 21 procedure is likely to mean that your landlord can only commence possession proceedings in certain circumstances. There may be an evidential burden that needs to be overcome before proceedings can be commenced.

At KaurMaxwell, our property team advise both landlords and tenants in respect of property litigation and possession proceedings. Our specialist team, are trained to consider your objectives, understand your concerns and provide cutting edge and innovative advice to achieve the best result for you.

If you have any queries about the Renter's Rights Bill, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Real Estate team by telephone on 0207 052 3545 or by email info@kaurmaxwell.com

This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice.

Please contact KaurMaxwell for advice before taking any action in reliance on it. 

By: Dhruti Shingadia