9:25 AM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago 15
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The Renters’ Rights Bill will be introduced in the House of Commons this week which will see Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions being banned when the Bill becomes law.
Labour will not be waiting for the court backlog to be cleared beforehand, the Guardian newspaper claims.
That is despite warnings that the court system will not be able to cope with a surge in possession cases meaning that landlords could see the court process taking much longer.
However, media speculation points to the government rejecting moves for rent controls.
The bill will also include several other measures to strengthen renters’ rights such as landlords needing to give longer notice periods before evicting tenants.
Tenant bidding wars will be outlawed, and Awaab’s Law will be extended to the private rented sector so landlords will be required to address hazards within a specified timeframe.
Ben Beadle, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), said: “Plans to reform the private rented sector have been on the table for over five years now.
“Above all, renters and landlords need certainty about what the future looks like.
“Whilst we await the precise details of the Bill, it is vital that it works and is fair to both tenants and landlords.”
He adds that robust possession grounds are needed to give landlords the confidence to remain in the sector and protect the supply of homes to let.
Mr Beadle said: “Plans for a decent homes standard for the sector and an Ombudsman service will be important in ensuring every landlord does what the majority already do, namely provide decent housing and a good service to their tenants.
“However, this needs to be backed up by ensuring councils have the resources to properly enforce these measures.
“More broadly, the end of section 21 will leave the courts needing to hear possession claims where landlords have a legitimate reason.
“The grounds for possession will need to be clear, comprehensive and workable in cases of tenant anti-social behaviour, serious rent arrears or where landlords plan to sell properties among others.”
Dan Wilson Craw, the deputy chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “Evictions have surged in recent years so it is welcome that the government is acting quickly to introduce legislation to tackle this crisis.
“The abolition of Section 21 evictions is long overdue and requiring landlords to provide a valid reason for eviction will give tenants more confidence to challenge disrepair and poor treatment by landlords and letting agents.
“Under the last government’s proposals, landlords could still evict tenants if they wanted to sell or move in, just six months into the tenancy, with only two months’ notice and with no support to find a new home.”
He added: “Renters will be reassured that the government is planning longer notice periods and other protections in these cases.
“These should include more time in our homes without fear of losing them, and support with the costs if we are asked to move for reasons beyond our control.”
He continued: “The government is right to take a stand on the egregious practice of bidding wars, but the proposed measures risk being ineffective at countering the problem.
“Permitting would-be tenants to ‘voluntarily’ bid above the asking price will just see this practice becoming the norm, such is the imbalance of power when renters are desperate to find a home.
“This move risks seeing the government having to revisit the issue, as has been recently seen in the Australian state of Victoria.”
Mr Wilson Craw added: “The government has also promised to provide tenants with greater protections against unreasonable within-tenancy rent increases, but if ministers have ruled out caps linked to inflation or wage growth it is unclear how this will be an improvement on the status quo.
“They risk a missed opportunity if landlords can continue to raise rent on existing tenants to an unaffordable market rate, leading to evictions in all but name.”
Steve Masters
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Sign Up10:49 AM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
I hope that when the details of the bill are published it is balanced enough to protect the rental industry as well as the renters.
Otherwise, never mind a surge in eviction cases going to court, I predict there will be a surge in illegal eviction cases not going to court.
The good landlords will be stuck with bad tenants for much longer but bad landlords will just boot the good tenants out by force. How can this be progress?
God help us all.
JB
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Sign Up11:14 AM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
As always good landlords and good tenants will suffer
Stella
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Sign Up11:32 AM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Steve Masters at 09/09/2024 - 10:49
The return of Peter Rachman and only the decent landlords and tenants will suffer.
Eden Lan
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Sign Up12:47 PM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Steve Masters at 09/09/2024 - 10:49
Hi
Any idea when this will become the law? Will we have time to serve section 21(Form 6a)
Geoff
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Sign Up13:07 PM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
Can anyone clarify
Every time I read progress reports and summaries on this legislation - I wonder if we have misunderstood the true intention.
Does this follow
1) Landlords can continue to evict but need to make a case. This is time-consuming and costly and I can understand that landlords resist the costs and time. But it makes errant Landlords behave better.
2) Our Council subsidise a huge number of tenants (in both private and social housing). When a tenant is currently evicted they receive them as (no fault) homeless person and need to provide emergency housing. But this changes - tenants that are evicted will now be given a reason. So far fewer people will rock up at the council offices claiming no fault homelessness.
Where the tenant is evicted because of antisocial behaviour or failure to maintain their previous abode (etc) - there will be documented evidence and copies of warning letters etc. It will not be a "no fault eviction".
Will this reduce the cost/priority to the council
All council subsidised tenants will soon realise that they can no longer be evicted and just rock up as a no-fault homless person to the council and expect emergency housing - will this cause the few currently errant/awkward tenants to improve their behaviour?
.
Steve O'Dell
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Sign Up13:13 PM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
Today a good friend on mine decided to sell 5 of her houses and to use the money to invest in French property. Her houses are good, clean, well kept. Tenants are treated well. This decision was purely based on the prospect of Labours policies. Evidence if you need it that these changes are doing more harm than good. She is just one that I know of.
Stella
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Sign Up13:21 PM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Geoff at 09/09/2024 - 13:07
I am hoping that there will be a mandatory ground if we need to retire or would we still have to have tenants beyond the grave if left to a Judge to decide.
From what I have heard so far this bill represents a very unfair deal for the PRS
Darren Sullivan
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Sign Up13:40 PM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Eden Lan at 09/09/2024 - 12:47
I would have thought so hasn't it got to go through the House of Lords next.
This is it being introduced there should be dates in advance not this week.
GBRISTOL
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Sign Up15:00 PM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
So we have today given Section 21 notices to 4 tenants (while we still can)... 1 has rented from us for 10 years.. another for 4 years.
All good tenants.
Our properties are well maintained (by us) and our tenants pay lower than average rents.
But we've had enough.. it's time to sell up.. thankfully we stand to make hefty profits on sale which since we are Ltd won't all get taken by the tax man and we can reinvest in building some of those millions of new homes that lovely Mr Starmer has promised to build...
But unfortunately our tenants will not be so lucky.. they'll pay more rent because market rents are 20% more at least than they currently pay and none can afford to buy even after we offered to sell at a discount to them.
Chalk this up as a victory Shelter and Generation Rent et al.. one less evil landlord in the world...
PH
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Sign Up15:11 PM, 9th September 2024, About a month ago
Yep , good tenants have a house for life regardless of what the landlord wants. Fair ?