On 17th May 2023 the Renters Reform Bill will be introduced into Parliament which will affect approximately 11 million renters and 2 million landlords in England. The main purpose of the bill is to provide protection for renters against no-fault evictions by eradicating the use of section 21 notices by landlords. A section 21 notice, giving 2 months’ notice to tenants, has previously been used by landlords to evict tenants without justification at the end of a tenancy period.
Landlords will only be able be able to evict their tenants if they have a valid ground for possession including when they wish to move back into their property, or the tenant has stopped paying rent. The existing section 8 grounds will be amended to provide a broader scope under which notice can be served.
The bill is said to be also aimed to help protect landlords by making the process easier for landlords to evict antisocial and troublesome tenants. This will include reform to the court process to speed up any possession proceedings.
A new ombudsman will be introduced which will have powers to assist tenants in issues such as the condition of their property. This is to ensure landlords are held accountable for their legal responsibilities.
An online portal will be introduced setting out in one place landlords’ obligations and responsibilities. The government has not yet confirmed the specifics of the portal, but it should help tenants and local councils see which landlords have been complying with their obligations.
There are a lot of changes due to be implemented and hopefully these will assist to protect both landlords and tenants.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at litigation@barwells.com if you have any queries about the reform.
For any tenancy granted after 1st October 2015, the tenant must be provided with the most recent How to Rent Guide available at the time. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has on 24th March 2023 issued a revised version of the guide. If you fail to serve your tenant with the relevant copy of the guide you will be unable to serve a valid S.21 Notice should this be required further down the line. It is therefore important to ensure this step has been followed at the outset of any new tenancy agreement.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01273 582271 or litigation@barwells.com
You can find out more information at GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent
If you have been made redundant and need advice regarding the terms of your Settlement Agreement, please contact our Litigation Department on 01273 582271 or email litigation@barwells.com to speak to one of our experts. Find out more about Settlement Agreements in the Employment section of our website.
If you have been made redundant and need advice regarding the terms of your Settlement Agreement, please contact our Litigation Department on 01273 582271 or email litigation@barwells.com to speak to one of our experts. Find out more about Settlement Agreements in the Employment section of our website.
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