Renters (Reform Bill) 2023

With the introduction of the Renters Reform Bill to Parliament on 17 th May 2023, this long-awaited proposed legislation affecting the private rented sector in England, moves closer to becoming law.

In 2019, Theresa May – the Prime Minister at the time, promised to scrap Section 21 evictions. This was followed later that year by Boris Johnson vowing to get “a better deal for renters”.

Ministers published a rental reform white paper in summer 2022, but with six different housing ministers since 2021, draft legislation has only recently been presented to Parliament for debate.

A key section of the Bill is the proposed abolishment of the Section 21 notice – also known as ‘no fault eviction’.

Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Minister insisted that the draft Bill will “change the way the relationship between landlords and tenants works, providing tenants with new protection, which should ensure they are better protected against arbitrary rent increases”.

Gove said the Renters’ (Reform) Bill will allow tenants to challenge poor landlords without losing their home.

To ensure the new tenancy systems works for landlords and tenants, it will be introduced alongside a reformed courts process. For those evictions that do end up in the courts, more of the process will be digitised – to avoid lengthy delays.

The Bill’s Main Proposals include:-

Abolishing Section 21 notice evictions, which currently allow landlords to evict tenants without a reason.
Reforming the Section 8 notice process, to expand and strengthen the grounds for repossession for landlords
Introducing a new type of tenancy agreement, giving tenants more security
Creating a landlords’ register where all landlords are required to register themselves and their properties on a property portal
A new Ombudsman will be appointed to settle disputes and relieve pressure on the courts system.
Applying the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) to privately rented homes
Changes to how and when rent increases can be implemented
Tenants will be granted the legal right to request that a pet be allowed to stay in their rental property.
Make it illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to tenants in receipt of benefits or with children

Under these new proposals, tenants will be given the legal right to request a pet in their home, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. However, it also stipulates that landlords be able to require pet insurance, to cover any damage to their property.

Gove, further added that the draft bill will “change the way the relationship between landlords and tenants works, providing tenants with new protection, which should ensure they are better protected against arbitrary rent increases”.

“This Government is determined to tackle these injustices by offering a new deal to those living in the Private Rented Sector; one with quality, affordability, and fairness at its heart.

“Our new laws introduced to Parliament today will support the vast majority of responsible landlords who provide quality homes to their tenants, while delivering our manifesto commitment to abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.

“This will ensure that everyone can live somewhere which is decent, safe and secure – a place they’re truly proud to call home.”

The Government has stated the Bill “will introduce comprehensive, fair and efficient grounds to ensure landlords have confidence they can regain possession when it is reasonable. We will expedite landlords’ ability to evict those who disrupt neighbourhoods through anti-social behaviour and introduce a new ground for persistent rent arrears”.

It is important to acknowledge that despite the Bill being introduced to Parliament, it has yet to become law. As it stands, the Government is planning to have the Bill passed into law during the lifetime of this Parliament – which is currently due to run to December 2024.