Renters’ Reform Bill publication sends the PRS ‘back to the Dark Ages’

Renters’ Reform Bill publication sends the PRS ‘back to the Dark Ages’

8:48 AM, 17th May 2023, About 2 years ago 85

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The long-awaited government plan to overhaul the private rented sector (PRS) with the publication of the Renters’ Reform Bill has been condemned as ‘going back to the dark Ages’.

The government says that more than 11 million tenants in England will now enjoy safer, fairer and higher-quality homes thanks to the introduction of the ‘ground-breaking’ Bill.

It adds that the legislation is a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity that meets the government’s 2019 manifesto commitment.

That’s when the Tories promised to abolish section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and give renters the power to challenge ‘bad’ landlords without fear of losing their home.

But Neil Patterson, the managing director of Property118 slammed the law’s publication and said: “There’s nothing for landlords to rejoice about – this law will take the PRS back to the Dark Ages.”

‘Too many renters are living in damp, unsafe, cold homes’

Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, said: “Too many renters are living in damp, unsafe, cold homes, powerless to put things right, and with the threat of sudden eviction hanging over them.

“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.”

He added: “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.”

New bill also protects more than two million landlords

The government says the new bill also protects more than two million landlords, making it easier for them to recover their properties when they need to.

This means landlords can sell their property if they want to, move in a close family member or deal with tenants who refuse to pay rent.

The new law will strengthen powers to quickly evict anti-social tenants by widening the disruptive and harmful activities that can lead to eviction.

There will also be a reformed courts process which will be largely digitised to help ensure the new tenancy system works for everyone.

‘Government’s pledge to ensure landlords can swiftly recover properties’

The chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), Ben Beadle, said: “We welcome the government’s pledge to ensure landlords can swiftly recover properties from anti-social tenants and those failing to pay their rent.

“Plans to digitise court hearings will also improve the speed at which legitimate possession cases are processed.”

He adds: “The NRLA will continue to work with the government to ensure the detail of the Bill is fair for responsible landlords and tenants alike.”

Quicker and cheaper resolutions to disputes

There’s also a new Ombudsman planned that will provide quicker and cheaper resolutions to disputes.

Plus, landlords will get a new digital Property Portal to understand their obligations and help tenants make better decisions when signing a new tenancy agreement.

The government says this will give confidence to good landlords while driving the criminal minority out of business.

Legal right to request a pet in their home

The new Bill will also enable tenants to have the legal right to request a pet in their home – which a landlord must consider and ‘cannot unreasonably refuse’.

That means landlords will be able to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property.

The Bill will also:

  • Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS for the first time, giving renters safer, higher quality homes and remove the blight of poor-quality homes in local communities. This will help deliver the government’s Levelling Up mission to halve the number of non-decent rented homes by 2030.
  • Make it illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to tenants in receipt of benefits or with children – ensuring no family is unjustly discriminated against when looking for a place to live.
  • Strengthen councils’ enforcement powers and introduce a new requirement for councils to report on enforcement activity – to help target criminal landlords.

The government says the Bill is a key part of the government’s mission to level up across the country and follows the wider housing reforms in the Social Housing Regulation Bill and Building Safety Act.

These address the systemic issues identified following the Grenfell Tower tragedy on improving the safety and quality of social housing and how tenants are treated by their landlords.

‘The Renters’ Reform Bill is a huge opportunity’

Dan Wilson Craw, the acting director of Generation Rent, said: “The Renters’ Reform Bill is a huge opportunity to improve the lives of the 11 million people who now rent from private landlords in England.

“Arbitrary Section 21 evictions make it impossible for tenants to put down roots and report problems about their home with confidence.

“Abolishing them will take away much of the stress of renting and improve communication and trust between tenants and landlords.”

He added: “The new Property Portal and Ombudsman have the potential to make it much harder for criminal landlords to operate.

“These reforms wouldn’t be happening without the tireless campaigning of members of the Renters Reform Coalition and thousands of renters over many years.

“We look forward to reading the Bill and working with ministers and Parliamentarians to make sure the legislation achieves what it sets out to do.”


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paul robinson

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11:43 AM, 23rd May 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 23/05/2023 - 11:22
Healthy & greatly reduced 🤔

Ian Narbeth

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12:12 PM, 23rd May 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ma'at Housing Solutions at 23/05/2023 - 11:06Ma'at, thank you for your support. I would say however that the Bill makes a small change to Ground 14. Instead of:
"The tenant or a person residing in or visiting the dwelling-house—
(a)has been guilty of conduct causing or likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance ..." it will say
"The tenant or a person residing in or visiting the dwelling-house—
(a)has been guilty of conduct causing or capable of causing a nuisance or annoyance..."
The problem for landlords trying to use section 8 for anti-social behaviour is that evidence has to be presented and those on the receiving end of ASB are reluctant to make statements against the anti-social individual(s). Section 21 was the most useful tool in our armoury.
The cases you highlight are not ones landlords can easily deal with even with help from Councils.

JeggNegg

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0:03 AM, 26th May 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Raz at 20/05/2023 - 06:40
great idea thank you

Reluctant Landlord

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13:29 PM, 26th May 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 23/05/2023 - 12:12the only way is to plead with the tenant who's had enough of the bad tenant's behaviour to log it with the Council. The amount of times I have explained to the tenant that my hands are tied is unbelievable. They think I am 'bad' landlord for not doing anything, but the reality is far different. I CAN'T do anything!
Ive been told by more than one council that the person DIRECTLY affected has to directly complain to the ASB team etc. They take this to be literally. They wont log anything a LL says as they are 200 miles away. The fact that I get the tenant ringing me at 2,3,4 o clock in the morning as the bad tenant is causing merry hell is not logged or taken into consideration,. The good tenant knows if they call the Police (IF) they attend the bad tenant will know who called them so they don't want to call, but I insist it is the only way to log this and help them.
Luckily this was resolved somewhat when I got messages myself from bad tenant threatening to stab me and burn the property down did the council raise an eyebrow an pencil to help. But this happened far to late and should not have had to get this stage at all.

Ma'at Housing Solutions

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14:10 PM, 26th May 2023, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 26/05/2023 - 13:29
I'm so sorry "DSR" for your experience but what you were advised by 'several councils' actually says more about those council's failures to assist either the tenant at risk and yourself as the landlord.
And I say that as a former ASB & Housing Officer!
I can almost guarantee you that if after the council's refusal to assist you and your tenant, you informed the council that you would be compelled to serve notice on all the tenants due to the unnecessary stress it is causing you, the council would 'magically' be able to assist suddenly!

Quite frankly much as I applauded the 'Rogue Landlords Register' LA's now have, equally there should be a 'Rogue local authority/ council Register'!
These council's maladministration and even malfeasance too probably causes more harm to a greater numbers of tenants than any prs landlord!

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