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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Comments

Rod

11:02 AM, 7th July 2022, About 2 years ago

Let's not get too obsessed with the detail until the Bill is drafted.
The sacking of Michael Gove (the ultimate levelling down) and resignation of Housing Minister Stewart Andrew (which gives him the dubious claim of being the shortest serving Housing Minister), is likely to result in yet another new Housing Minister. While the fact that the white paper has been published will constrain the new Minister's scope, it may help to refocus some elements.
With approximately 20 Housing Ministers in 20 years, it is difficult to take claims about housing being a priority with anything other than cynicism. After all, English Housing survey reported the average tenancy length is now 4.3 years, while that of a Housing Minister seems to be more like an annual tenancy.
iHowz are finalising their response to the white paper and will post it here in the next few days.
You can check out all their campaigns here
https://ihowz.uk/category/campaigns/

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northern landlord

11:25 AM, 7th July 2022, About 2 years ago

It would be desirable to have the house free of tenants when you want to sell. That way you can insure it is clean and tidy, touch up or repair any unreported tenant damage etc. to show the house in the best possible light and get the best price. The last thing you want is scruffy tenants pointing out every supposed fault to prospective buyers or even denying you entry to show buyers around. They could claim they were being harassed by constant viewings ruining their right to quiet enjoyment. Buyers also would have some reserve about tenants being in place and so I think would their mortgage lenders/solicitors. There is always the danger that the disgruntled tenants will just stay in place and ruin the sale. This where I think the subject of negotiated compensation for the tenant paid when they move out could arise.
Additionally how would you prove that you wanted the house back to move a relative in? What would happen if the relative didn’t actually move in after all? The whole thing is not fully thought through. Hopefully these things will be sorted at the committee stage.

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Rod

11:51 AM, 7th July 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by northern landlord at 07/07/2022 - 11:25
iHowz proposed tenant compensation and longer notice periods based on the time since the tenancy commenced, in its paper arguing for the retention of S21.

https://ihowz.uk/the-unintended-consequences-of-losing-the-section-21-notice/

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