Millions of renters in England have moved a step closer to receiving enhanced rights following the formal approval of a new law.
The Renters’ Rights Bill has been granted Royal Assent, a move expected to impact 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords, according to the Government.
Key provisions of the Bill include the elimination of Section 21 “no fault” evictions and expanded rights for tenants regarding pet ownership.
While the rules are not yet in effect, they will exclusively apply to rentals in England. Further details on the implementation of the reforms will be disclosed in the upcoming weeks.
The Renters’ Reform Coalition, comprising organizations such as Shelter, Generation Rent, and Citizens Advice, hailed the amendments as a significant enhancement of renters’ rights.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) expressed its commitment to collaborating with the Government to ensure the reforms are fairly and effectively implemented.
The Renters’ Rights Bill introduces several key features, including the end of Section 21 evictions, which allow landlords to terminate tenancies without justification.
Additionally, landlords will be prohibited from selling or occupying a property within the initial 12 months of a tenancy, after which they must provide a four-month notice period.
Under the new regulations, landlords can evict tenants for rent arrears, property damage, or antisocial behavior. The notice period for tenants owing rent will be extended from two to three months.
Tenants issued a Section 8 notice will have four months to vacate the property, following which a court may decide on possession.
All tenancies will transition to periodic agreements, and tenants will have enhanced rights to request pet ownership, subject to reasonable consideration by landlords.
Tenants dissatisfied with a pet request refusal can challenge the decision through the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman.
Discrimination against benefit claimants or families with children will be outlawed, while landlords and estate agents will be prohibited from soliciting offers exceeding the advertised rent to prevent bidding wars.
Mandatory publication of asking rents by landlords and estate agents will be enforced, with offers above this rate deemed illegal.
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