Charity urges protection for bereaved renters in Renters (Reform) Bill

Charity urges protection for bereaved renters in Renters (Reform) Bill

9:51 AM, 26th April 2024, About 7 months ago 17

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One charity is calling for changes to help protect bereaved renters.

According to Marie Curie, an estimated 300,000 people across England and Wales are forced to move home following the death of someone they live with every year.

The end-of-life charity says the Renters (Reform) Bill must protect bereaved renters from eviction.

400 renters could be evicted from their homes

The Renters (Reform) Bill passed its final stage in the House of Commons this week and will now head to the House of Lords for debate.

Matthew Reed, chief executive of Marie Curie, says without protection more than 400 renters could be evicted from their homes.

He said: “A complete absence of compassion could be seeing renters evicted at the rate of almost 400 a day because the person they lived with has died.

“The death of someone you live with, whether they be a family member, a partner or a friend, is a uniquely distressing event.

“Bereaved renters often experience a significant and immediate loss of household income, as well as additional costs like preparing funerals and memorials for their loved ones.

“They should not have to deal with the stress, pain and anxiety of losing their home, and all the memories it holds, as well.”

Landlords use bereavement as a trojan horse to remove tenants

Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee, has signed amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill that would protect the rights of bereaved renters.

He said: “It is utterly unacceptable that private landlords are able to use bereavement as a trojan horse to remove tenants.

“If the government is genuinely committed to protecting renters, it must use the Renters (Reform) Bill to give tenants the peace of mind that amidst the very worst circumstances, their basic right to shelter and safety will not be jeopardised.”

He adds the issue of eviction is particularly worsening for younger people in London.

He said: “The issue is getting worse as more people are forced to rent in the face of record housing unaffordability, with rates double what they were three years ago.

“The problem is especially acute for young people and Londoners –  those who live in the capital or are between 18 and 34 years old are more than twice as likely to be forced out of their homes because of the issue.

“As the law stands, landlords can evict renters if the named tenant dies, even if the surviving renters continue to fully pay rent and there are no other grounds for eviction.”


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Dylan Morris

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18:02 PM, 26th April 2024, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by David at 26/04/2024 - 10:34
Very good point

Monty Bodkin

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21:09 PM, 26th April 2024, About 7 months ago

Another example that the to@55ers that dreamt this up haven't thought through the consequences.

The private rental sector worked on goodwill from both landlords and tenants.

Making it into an adversarial system will be a disaster.

Peter Merrick

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8:29 AM, 28th April 2024, About 7 months ago

"... their basic right to shelter and safety will not be jeopardised".

99% of private landlords will be sympathetic to a tenant in genuine distress, but ultimately, we are not responsible for providing for a person's human rights, we are here to provide a service in return for an agreed payment per month and responsible behaviour on the part of the service user. It's the authorities' responsibility to guarantee a person's human rights, e.g. by providing alternative accomodation, financial assistance, counselling, etc as required until the person is able to stand on their own two feet again.

Julie Ford

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10:13 AM, 28th April 2024, About 7 months ago

A news story lacking fact just to make an anti-landlord point - oh how original.

ASTs do not end when the sole tenant dies- landlords have options, s21 or s8 both provide a min of 2months notice.

If a joint tenancy then nothing changes (technically)

If rent is then paid by the remaining occupants there is nothing stopping a landlord entering a new tenancy with them and everything continues smoothly

However, my experience of the minority of relatives who remain in a deceased tenants property are they do not pay the rent- believe they are entitled to succession (not available in the private sector) and leave the landlord struggling to pay mortgage and bills while trying to navigate eviction

Marie Curie may make better use of their time educating those left behind rather than jumping on a now somewhat overloaded bandwagon of landlord bashers

But I suspect as with most charity CEOs the facts really aren’t important unless those facts go in your favour

Dylan Morris

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10:32 AM, 28th April 2024, About 7 months ago

Rent arrears can destroy a landlord who has a rental mortgage. Unable to pay the lender, they will start eviction proceedings when arrears hit 3 months. Landlord crying “my tenant has died” will make little difference. With a credit history in the dustbin landlord is unable to remortgage and also take on any personal borrowing. Credit card lenders get alerted by the credit agencies to missed payments and start cutting card borrowing limits. If the landlord is working in the finance industry a bad credit history can result in loss of job. And if the property gets repossessed then landlord can suffer huge losses. It really is life changing. I doubt Marie Curie have the slightest idea what the death of a tenant can do to a landlord.
It’s not only tenants that can suffer with a death. Owner occupiers are in the same boat, their lender will start legal proceedings after 3 months arrears to recover their security. I notice Marie Curie aren’t having a go at mortgage lenders ………just landlords.

Cider Drinker

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20:03 PM, 28th April 2024, About 7 months ago

What if we have a Porsche on lease but in my wife’s name? Will I be able to keep it forever if she dies and I can’t afford the monthly payments?

Asking for a friend.

Mick Roberts

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6:52 AM, 1st May 2024, About 7 months ago

I'm sorry, I've had several people pass away over the years & often the family wants the house for 2 months without paying. Who's paying the mortgage?
Will the mortgage lender let us not pay?
Housing Benefit (The Govt & Council) stop the Rent Benefit instantly.
But these people want the Private Landlord to pay? More of us selling.
If Govt wants to keep paying us fine, they can stop there forever.

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