BREAKING NEWS
Renters’ Rights Bill Update: Key Changes and What They Mean for You
In a major victory for renters across the country, the Renters’ Rights Bill has been updated with several key changes that aim to improve the lives of millions of renters. As the bill makes its way through Congress, we’re breaking down the most significant updates and what they mean for you.
Update 1: Increased Rent Control
The updated bill includes a provision that will give cities the power to implement rent control measures to prevent rapid rent increases. This means that renters will have more protection against unaffordable rent hikes and will be able to enjoy more stability in their living situations.
Update 2: Improved Security Deposits
Under the new bill, security deposits will be capped at a maximum of two months’ rent, and landlords will be required to provide a clear breakdown of how the deposit is being used. This will help to prevent landlords from taking advantage of renters and ensure that deposits are used for legitimate purposes.
Update 3: Enhanced Tenant Protections
The updated bill includes a range of enhanced tenant protections, including:
- Automatic renewal of leases for a minimum of two years
- Increased notice periods for evictions
- Improved access to repairs and maintenance
- Protection against retaliation for reporting housing code violations
Update 4: Increased Funding for Affordable Housing
The bill includes a significant increase in funding for affordable housing programs, which will help to address the nation’s affordable housing crisis. This will provide more opportunities for low-income renters to access affordable housing options.
Update 5: Streamlined Eviction Process
The updated bill includes a provision that will streamline the eviction process, making it easier for landlords to evict problem tenants. This will help to reduce the number of unnecessary evictions and make the process more efficient.
What It Means for You
These updates are a major step forward for renters across the country. By providing increased rent control, improved security deposits, enhanced tenant protections, increased funding for affordable housing, and a streamlined eviction process, the Renters’ Rights Bill will help to make renting more affordable, stable, and secure.
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Found on this website but figured I'd share here:
Changes will apply to both new and existing tenancies at the same time – and are expected to be in force by summer 2025.
Tenancy and possession
- End of Section 21, the so-called ‘no fault eviction’. Section 21 notices served before the commencement date will continue to be valid until they expire.
- Abolish fixed-term tenancies. All tenancies to become periodic with no more than a month at a time for the periods. Tenants can serve two months’ notice to end the tenancy, at any time, and via any written method.
- New ‘Landlord circumstance’ grounds. A new ground where the landlord needs to sell will be introduced, as well as an amended ground where the landlord or their family needs to move in. Landlords won’t be able to use these grounds in the first 12 months of a tenancy, will need to give four months’ notice, and can't market the property for 12 months after the notice expires or the claim is filed at court.
- Mandatory rent arrears ground amended – requiring three months’ arrears and four weeks’ notice.
- A new student possession ground – which will require prior notice from the landlord and only applies to HMOs let entirely to students.
- Ban discrimination against tenants in receipt of benefits or with children when choosing who to let to.
Setting rents
- Ban rental bidding wars – preventing landlords and agents from encouraging or accepting rents above the listed rate.
- Limit in-tenancy rent rises to a single annual increase capped to whichever is lowest of market rates or the amount proposed by the landlord. Landlords must give two months’ notice. Tenants can challenge this via the First-tier Tribunal. Any increase can't happen until the tribunal’s made its decision.
Standards and enforcement
- Introduce a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector with fines of up to £7,000 for failing to meet standards
- Extend Awaab’s Law to private renting – setting clear timeframes within which landlords must make homes safe where they contain serious hazards
- Create a digital private rented sector database with information for landlords, tenants, and councils
- Local authority enforcement – give local authorities greater powers to investigate and enter PRS properties and substantially increase the financial penalties for non-compliance
Resolving disputes
- Set up a new ombudsman service that will provide fair, impartial and binding resolution to both landlords and tenants, reducing the need to go to court.
- Support for landlords who want to initiate disputes will not be through the ombudsman but the Government has confirmed they are looking at ways to allow this.
View info-news.info by 18th-Century-Bossman
Really good summary! I’d add a point 7 under Tenancy and possession that blanket bans on pets are no longer allowed. Tenants now have the right to request that a pet moves into the property with them at the start of the tenancy or later, landlord consent to not be unreasonably witheld. However, premiums for pet insurance can be charged to the tenant, or the tenant having pet insurance can be made a condition of the landlord’s consent.
A good summary. It misses bits i’d want more info such as the ban (or making it compuslory depending on route) for Guaranators or Rent or Advance. No tailoring to the applicants circumstances.
Thanks for the summary! Looks like the ‘landlord circumstances’ grounds won’t become the new Section 21 after all, as a 1-year ban on relisting has real teeth. Although it’s not clear if you’ll be able to rent to someone who’s approached you or made a public advert ‘looking for house to rent in area such-and-such at rate such-and-such’ without listing.
Personally I’m concerned about the pet thing, since I’ve got phobias about animals – dogs is the main one, but also spiders, snakes and so on. I’ll be interested to see what the ‘unreasonable grounds’ guidance is and whether I need to approach my GP for a formal diagnosis.
So how to make best use of the opportunity as a landlord?
No more renting your house out then returning six months later.
End of consent to let?
No more wannabe landlords?
Couple of things missing:
RRO are being increased from a maximum of 12 months to 2 years
Repeat offenders of breaches will have mandatory maximum penalties, rather than judge discretion