Renters Reform White Paper – Full details published

Renters Reform White Paper – Full details published

11:37 AM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago 83

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The fairer private rented sector white paper has been published today (16 June 2022). Click Here

Section 21 evictions will be outlawed. The Government’s claim is that more than a fifth of private renters who moved in 2019 and 2020 did not end their tenancy by choice, including 8% who were asked to leave by their landlord.

Measures published today also include:

  • Outlawing blanket bans on renting to families with children or those in receipt of benefits
  • Ending the use of arbitrary rent review clauses, restricting tribunals from hiking up rent and enabling tenants to be repaid rent for non-decent homes. This will make sure tenants can take their landlord to court to seek repayment of rent if their homes are of an unacceptable standard
  • Making it easier for tenants to have much-loved pets in their homes by giving all tenants the right to request a pet in their house, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse
  • All tenants to be moved onto a single system of periodic tenancies, meaning they can leave poor quality housing without remaining liable for the rent or move more easily when their circumstances change. A tenancy will only end if a tenant ends or a landlord has a valid reason, defined in law
  • Doubling notice periods for rent increases and giving tenants stronger powers to challenge them if they are unjustified
  • Giving councils stronger powers to tackle the worst offenders, backed by enforcement pilots, and increasing fines for serious offences

In addition, private landlords will have greater clarity and support through the following measures:

  • A new Private Renters’ Ombudsman will be created to enable disputes between private renters and landlords to be settled quickly, at low cost, and without going to court
  • Ensuring responsible landlords can gain possession of their properties efficiently from anti-social tenants and can sell their properties when they need to
  • Introducing a new property portal that will provide a single front door to help landlords to understand, and comply with, their responsibilities as well as giving councils and tenants the information they need to tackle rogue operators

Levelling Up and Housing Secretary Michael Gove said: “For too long many private renters have been at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords who fail to repair homes and let families live in damp, unsafe and cold properties, with the threat of unfair ‘no fault’ evictions orders hanging over them.

“Our New Deal for renters will help to end this injustice by improving the rights and conditions for millions of renters as we level up across the country and deliver on the people’s priorities.”

Alongside the white paper the following documents will be published:

  • Response to 2019 consultation on abolishing section 21
  • Response to 2018 call for evidence on the case for a housing court
  • Response to 2019 call for evidence on tenancy deposit reform

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Jo Westlake

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Sam B

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15:15 PM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Jo Westlake at 16/06/2022 - 14:04
Hi Jo, If this 'reform' is anything like scotland that did similar student accomidation still has a fixed tenancy more or less (I think there were caveats of some kind) but student lets where certainly treated differently.

Rob Crawford

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15:48 PM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago

Published! Has anyone got a link to this white paper - I would like to read it and draw my own conclusions - thanks!

Darren Peters

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15:59 PM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Rob Crawford at 16/06/2022 - 15:48
Jo Westlake has kindly given the link 2 comments above

Neil Patterson

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16:35 PM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago

Link to the White Paper added to the top of the Article 🙂

LaLo

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16:57 PM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago

When does all this actually become law as I’ve read that the ‘white paper’ has yet to go through parliament ?

Accidental LL

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18:52 PM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago

Looks like starts BEFORE March 2023.

S21 OURIGHT BAN.
AST's OUTRIGHT BAN.

All tendencies to be PERIODIC.

S8 grd 1 changes to 2 new grounds 1/ Moving In ground.
2/ Selling ground.

But BOTH 1/ and 2/ are only to be usable during the 1st 6 months of a tenancy. Thereafter a good tenant will effectively have a LIFETIME entitlement the live in the LANDLORD'S property.

Doesn't seem "right and fair" to me.

I will be issueing both S21and S8 grd 1 ASAP.

Darren Peters

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19:07 PM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by CYRIL STALEY at 16/06/2022 - 18:52
No,

"Recognising that landlords’ circumstances can change, we will introduce a new ground for landlords who wish to sell their property and allow landlords and their close family members to move into a rental property. We will not allow the use of these grounds in the first six months of a tenancy, replicating the existing restrictions on when Section 21 can be used. This will provide security to tenants while ensuring landlords have flexibility to respond to changes in their personal circumstances."

You can't use the moving in or selling ground during the 1st 6 months and after presumably you can. I can't see anything to the contrary

Darren Peters

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19:15 PM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Darren Peters at 16/06/2022 - 19:07Also, my take on the paragraphs below - I may have misread and the white paper may be amended before Assent:
From as yet unknown date of Assent, 6 months' warning to end date of S21 for new tenancies then a further 12 months for existing tenancies.
Eg IF Assent on 1 August 2022, nothing changes until 1 Feb 2023 when any NEW tenancy will be the new periodic tenancy with no S21 possible. Then on 1 Feb 2024 all existing tenancies become also be periodic with no S21 possible. All tenants will be able to give 2 months' notice at any time.
Ie there should be a bit of time to exit in a graceful manner
---
"We will allow time for a smooth transition to the new system, supporting tenants, landlords and agents to adjust, while making sure that tenants can benefit from the new system as soon as possible. We will implement the new system in two stages, ensuring all stakeholders have sufficient notice to implement the necessary changes."
"We will provide at least six months’ notice of our first implementation date, after which all new tenancies will be periodic and governed by the new rules. Specific timing will depend on when Royal Assent is secured. To avoid a two-tier rental sector, and to make sure landlords and tenants are clear on their rights, all existing tenancies will transition to the new system on a second implementation date. After this point, all tenants will be protected from Section 21 eviction. We will allow at least twelve months between the first and second dates."

Accidental LL

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19:40 PM, 16th June 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Darren Peters at 16/06/2022 - 19:15
Thank you Darren.

Looks like you are a person close to the preparation of the RRB.

Pity that clarity doesn't exist in the government's communications to date.

The HA 1988 enhanced the provision of rentable housing whereas to date the intention of sweeping the S21 and AST provisions away is so far serving only to decimate rental housing supply within the PRS.

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