Renters’ Rights Bill: What it means for UK renters and landlords

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.