Campaign group wants landlords to pay 2 months rent penalty to help tenants move home

The Renters Reform Coalition is encouraging tenants across England to contact their MPs to support the Renters’ Reform Bill.

The coalition, which includes housing sector organisations, charities, and partners like Big Issue, aims to bolster tenants’ rights and bring about ‘meaningful change’ in the rental market.

To garner support, tenants are encouraged to email their MPs, requesting their attendance at the Bill’s second reading.

According to Shelter’s Polly Neate, the coalition has recommended several amendments to the Bill to fortify tenants’ rights and ensure the legislation possesses the ‘teeth needed for real change’.

And part of the call includes having landlords pay the tenant TWO MONTHS rent to find somewhere new to live AND move home.

The coalition is also calling for …

The coalition is also calling for the imposition of a one-year ban on re-letting a property after a landlord uses a no-fault eviction – rather than the planned three-month ban.

Introduced last month, the renter reforms seek to abolish section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions so landlords cannot possess a property without providing a reason.

The Bill also aims to grant tenants more power to own pets and enhance the quality of privately rented homes.

However, the coalition proposes that judges should have full discretion to determine whether an eviction is justified.

They also recommend instituting a cap on in-tenancy rent increases, tied to the lower of inflation or wage growth, to prevent rent increases being used as a covert eviction tactic.

Landlords and letting agents might also be surprised at the demand from Generation Rent that a landlord pays their tenant two months’ rent to help them find a new place to live and move home.

And the groups says that landlords who want to sell will have to list the property for sale with a sitting tenant for six months before seeking an eviction.

Launched a campaign for 5,000 supporters to email their MP

As part of the campaign to get support, Shelter has launched a campaign for 5,000 supporters to email their MP and urge them to turn up for the Bill’s second reading.

The charity’s campaign page states: ‘By contacting your MP, you’re showing them just how important this bill is to you.

‘As their constituent, you have their ear, so adding your own story about why renting must be fixed will make your email even more powerful.

‘We need as many MPs as possible to turn up to the debate and demand for it to be focused on renters’ rights and as strong as possible.’

On Twitter, Ms Neate said: “This is not the time to relax on reform of private renting.

“There’s real danger of loopholes in the Renters Reform Bill that could undermine benefits of ending no-fault evictions.”

Extended eviction notice period of four months

Along with improved tenant protections, the coalition is also calling for an extended eviction notice period of four months instead of the current proposal of two months.

It also suggests shielding renters from section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions during the first two years of a tenancy, as opposed to the proposed six months.

According to the coalition, these changes would offer a significant improvement over the existing system.

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