Millions of renters in England are on the brink of gaining increased rights following the formal approval of a new law.
The Renters’ Rights Bill has now received Royal Assent, a move expected to impact 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords in the country.
Key provisions in the Bill include the elimination of Section 21 “no fault” evictions and enhanced rights for tenants regarding pet ownership.
The implementation of these regulations is pending and will specifically apply to rental properties in England, with further details on the rollout to be disclosed in the upcoming weeks.
Advocates such as the Renters’ Reform Coalition, comprising organizations like Shelter, Generation Rent, and Citizens Advice, view these changes as a significant enhancement of renters’ rights.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has expressed its intention to collaborate with the Government to ensure the reforms are executed equitably and effectively.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will put an end to Section 21 evictions, which allow landlords to terminate a tenancy without providing a reason.
Under the new rules, tenancies will become “periodic” or rolling rather than fixed, converting existing fixed-term agreements into periodic ones.
Tenants will have stronger rights to request pets in properties, with landlords required to consider such requests and cannot unreasonably refuse.
Furthermore, discrimination against benefit claimants or individuals with children by landlords and estate agents will be prohibited, although all tenants will still undergo reference and affordability checks.
To prevent bidding wars and ensure fair access to accommodation, landlords and estate agents will no longer be permitted to demand offers exceeding the advertised rent.
Additionally, landlords and estate agents will be mandated to disclose an asking rent for their property, and accepting offers above this rate will be deemed illegal.