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What is it?
A new piece of legislation to empower tenants, to give a tenant more protection and more redress if things go wrong.
When?
Due to take effect by Summer 2025
What changes?
The law will ban "no fault"/"no reason" evictions (Section 21 notice), a ban on rent increases during the tenancy, an option to have a pet in the property, a ban on bidding wars. This will apply to new and existing tenancies.
How about disrepair in my property?
The Bill will introduce the "Decent Homes Standard" meaning the property needs to be in a safe condition and free from hazards - if not, a landlord can be fined up to £7,000 and face prosecution by the local Council. Further, for issues such as mould and damp, the Landlord will have to inspect and repair within 14 days.
Reasons a landlord may change their mind to claiming the property back :
property was in disrepair, they turned up unannounced, they failed to protect the security deposit (or if they did they failed to send the prescribed information on the deposit scheme), harassment by the landlord, the landlord has been served an improvement notice in the last 6 months by the Council. landlord failed to provide any of the following to the tenant : "How to Rent" guide, EPC certificate, gas safety certificate, or if landlord has charged any banned fees.
Grounds for landlords to claim the property back once the Bill is effective:
1. they want it back to sell the property or to move back in (but not in the first 6 months of the tenancy)
2. repeated serious rent arrears (not a one-off financial shock), so at least 2 months' arrears three times in the last three years (so it needs to be a pattern of arrears);
3. Section 8 evictions are amended so that rent arrears now require 4 weeks' notice period to evict
4. If there is "serious antisocial behaviour" - a landlord can evict without any notice.
5. There are mandatory and discretionary reasons the court will take in to account under Section 8 - here is a useful link : https://theindependentlandlord.com/renters-reform-evict/
Any other important stuff?
The Bill will implement a digital database to show a new tenant vital information about a property. If things go wrong, the Property Ombudsman will be in place for any redress for the tenant and to try and avoid court action. It will be free to use, impartial and the Ombudsman's decision is binding.
The Bill will outlay blanket bans on tenants with children or if they are in receipt of benefits.
What may happen in the meantime?
Some landlords will try to claim their property back for existing tenancies before the Bill comes into effect - meaning more "no fault" evictions and repossessions. Some will fall foul of the requirements to do this (under Section 21) so legal advice ought to be sought if you are facing this - if you are in a tenancy and have concerns or you feel you are being treated unfairly, please contact us to get in touch!
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