Renters’ Rights Bill: What it means for UK renters and landlords
The Renters' Rights Bill is now at its report stage and a third reading date is set to be announced. This briefing provides a background to the bill and an overview of its main provisions.
29 November, 2024
The Government recently published the first draft of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which replaces the Renters Reform Bill, and outlines the intention to transform the Private Rented Sector (PRS) and improve the lives of renters in the UK.
What are the key points of the Renters’ Rights Bill?
The Government is proposing a number of reforms, including the following:
- New grounds for possession (End of Section 21 notice) – This will prevent landlords from evicting tenants without a reason. However, landlords will still be able to regain possession where there are serious rent arrears (currently proposed at three months), or after a minimum period, where the landlord wishes to sell or move back into the property.
- An end to bidding wars – When marketing their property, landlords or agents will be required to specify an asking price in writing. The Bill proposes to ban landlords or agents from encouraging or accepting rents above the stated asking price.
- Allow tenants to request a pet – Landlords will be required to consider requests for pets and permit them unless there is justification to decline. However, landlords will be able to require that tenants take out pet insurance to protect the property against damage.
- No more fixed term tenancies – Tenancies will be changed to a simpler structure known as Assured Tenancies, where they will run on a ‘rolling’ periodic basis until notice is served.
- A new digital database – A mandatory Private Rented Sector Database is being proposed, to help landlords demonstrate compliance with property safety standards.
- ‘Awaab’s Law’ – This law outlines clear expectations about the timeframes in which action must be taken by landlords to resolve serious hazards.
- Prevent discrimination of tenants in receipt of benefits or with children – The Bill proposes to make it illegal to apply blanket bans to tenants who receive benefits or who have children.
What is the status of the Renters’ Rights Bill?
There has been some confusion surrounding the status of the Renters’ Rights Bill, as the original Renters’ (Reform) Bill had to be scrapped in 2023 under the Conservative Government. However, since Labour came into power in July 2024, a new Bill has been introduced, named the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The first reading of the Renters’ Rights Bill was held on Wednesday 11 September 2024, and the second reading on Wednesday 9 October 2024. The Bill has completed the committee stage on 5 November 2024, where a group of MPs reviewed the proposed legislation in detail and discussed amendments. The next step is the report stage, and then a third reading in the House of Commons. Subject to approval from the House of Commons by way of a vote, it will then enter a similar passage through the House of Lords before receiving Royal Assent.
When will the Renters' Rights Bill become law?
At this point, the Bill is draft legislation. The Government has stated its intention to implement the Bill by Summer 2025, however, it must still go through several readings in the House of Commons and House of Lords, where the contents will be debated and some proposals within the Bill potentially amended.
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