9 things to know about the Renters’ Reform Bill White Paper

The long-awaited Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper was published in late June and at 80 pages long, you’ll be forgiven for not wanting to read every single word. Helpfully, the Aspire lettings team has read the document cover-to-cover and has extracted the most pertinent points that are applicable to London’s tenants and landlords.

Here are 9 aspects that should be implemented later this year:-

1. Section 21 evictions outlawed: so called ‘no fault’ evictions are being banned. Previously, landlords didn’t need a reason to ask tenants to leave but in the future, they’ll need to give an acceptable reason, to be defined in law, as to why they want to start the eviction process.

2. Easier to evict some tenants: while the ban on Section 21 notices will change the eviction landscape, it will become easier for landlords to remove tenants who are engaged in anti-social behaviour or who are in rent arrears.

3. Fixed-term tenancy agreements will cease: the Government wants to make it easier for tenants to exit troublesome tenancies, so they are scrapping fixed-term agreements. All tenancies will start as or become periodic, so tenants don’t have to wait for long fixed-terms to end.

4. Blanket bans on some tenant groups to end: landlords and their letting agents will no longer be able to apply a blanket ban on tenants with children and tenants who receive benefits.

5. Lets with pets - the new normal: landlords must consider tenants who wish to move in with a domestic animal and by law, they cannot legally refuse unless they have a compelling reason. In return, a landlord can insist that the tenant has specific pet insurance.

6. Rent rise procedure is changing: landlords will only be able to raise the rent once in a 12 month period. When they wish to do so, the notice period has doubled to two months and the landlord must use a formal Section 13 notice to notify the tenant of a rent adjustment.

7. A new living standard for private rentals: a new Decent Homes Standard will be introduced, following the lead from the social housing sector. This will be in addition to the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.

8. A new ombudsman will be created: the Government wants private rental disputes kept out of the courts, so a new private renters’ ombudsman will be formed. This will provide quicker and cheaper resolutions to disputes, such as deposit deductions and withholding rent.  

9. A new online hub for landlords will be launched: with so much compliance to abide by, the Government will bring all lettings laws, legislation and regulations together in one online hub so landlords can easily see what’s required of them and their property.

If you would like to know more about The Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper and how it may affect your buy-to-let or current tenancy, contact our lettings team today.