What problem is the Renters’ Rights Bill addressing?

“To ensure they protect their investments as best as they can landlords will be more diligent in tenant selection. This means people who can’t demonstrate they are good tenants will be rejected”

30 rental enquiries for a property so far, all rejected as below A1. Previously I’d have given at least a third of them a chance but can’t take the risk anymore.

“Why are people evicted with a no-fault eviction?”

1. Rent arrears.
2. Anti social Behaviour (near impossible to evict using section 8)
3. Landlord selling

The ‘theory’ that landlords evict on a whim is nonsense.

The RRB is only pandering to what the party in power sees as a political win and therefore a vote gain. They are trading off tenant naivety and focussing on apparent immediate ‘tenant gains’ only.

Tell people that rent the reason why your rents are high is because of evil landlords creaming profit, and of course they will believe it. They see it as money going our of their salary into purely into the pocket of another.

Tell the people the government will bring in laws to stop all ‘rogue’ landlords, make properties more efficient to reduce energy bills, make rent repayments easier, and stop rent increases, ban evictions, allow you a pet etc – and of course this is appealing.

It’s what they want to hear.

Its not about the effect of all of this on the rental sector – the further rise in costs to make this all happen. Its not what Mr/Ms T is concerned about overall – its what it means to them today and now. It’s what has been promised – and the government shall deliver!

The phrase – turkeys voting for Xmas has never been more true….

It has been truly astonishing to see how few amendments the Government has accepted as the RRB passes through its third reading in the Lords (the second and third sessions are today, 7 July, and next week on 15 July).

The team at iHowz were in the Lords lobbying for landlords next week.

Why not come and see us at the London NLIS show this week.
https://www.landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk/9-july-london

In addition to getting to meet the team and hear about the various changes landlords face, you can take advantage of our special show deal on membership.

Can’t make it?
Why not see why our members say we’re the friendliest landlord association?
https://ihowz.uk/

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 07/07/2025 – 10:45
Spot on.

The RRB is only about vote winning headlines not about actually solving any problems.

I believe it was a vote enticement for generally the under 35’s including students by ALL political parties at the last General Election and the previous one and to appease Shelter, Generation Rent et AL.

Both the Renters Reform Bill and the Renters Rights Bill have been badly drafted and some sections unworkable. That is down to the drafters but the fault of the Ministers for not thinking through or understanding what is needed and how to go about it before giving it to those that draft. And the fault of Government not to have read with a fine toothcomb line by line and understand the implications.

Also
Common Sense has mostly been bred out.

In mho too many PRS landlords do not know, or understand, their legal responsibilities, obligations, the regulations and legislation eg Landlord & Tenant, Fire Safety, Environmental etc etc BEFORE becoming landlords.
The PRS is a business.

This can honestly only lead to more legislation and regulation which affects all PRS landlords.

Relying on organisations like NRLA/Pims.co.uk/iHowz/Landlord Zone/et Al after becoming a PRS Landlord, usually when the sh*t has hit your fan, is too little too late. They too are, in the main, business there to make a profit.

Some PRS landlords say they are “accidental” landlords. No-one is as every landlord has made a conscious decision to be one. Whether inheriting a property, moving in with a partner and renting out the other’s property, entered via BTL. It was a choice.

5. The causes of the mould are many, but generally if properties are in decent/good repair it is down to tenant “lifestyle” even Michael Gove admitted that. ie lack of ventilation eg don’t open or refuse to open windows/tape up passive air vents & window trickle vents/place furniture right up to outside walls/drying washing on indoor lines or racks or on radiators etc etc; lack of adequate heating on in autumn, spring and winter months whether due to can’t afford or any other reasons; “not my [tenants] job to wipe off” condensation on windows/tiles around shower area/silicone around baths and basins or to use a proprietary mould remover spray at first sign of mould.
While it IS their home they don’t own the bricks and mortar so many don’t care and will care even less if legislation says landlords HAVE to sort it.

Not just vulnerable people will find themselves in dire circumstances and homeless because fewer landlords are willing or able to the risk and fewer rental properties out their as PRS landlords sell. My Local Authority started bulk buying in tents in 2023! One London Borough has evicted tenants from their Council Homes so that the Council can house homeless people!

I’m also very concerned that PRS Landlords will need to put on the data base register not only their personal home address even if using a letting agent, but how many evictions they have sought.
What business is of the general public to know who is a PRS landlord, their home address and how many evictions they have sought.

I suspect that the continued assault on the PRS, second home owners and Airbnb is more about pretending that the homeless crisis is down to everything except the real cause of too many people.

I believe it addresses the political problem that successive governments have failed to ensure enough of the right type of housing was built.Such action would have created competition which would have solved most of the problems they will try to solve unsuccessfully with this bill. Housing is a very fraught and sensitive issue. By blaming the PRS our politicians divert attention from their failings. It is plain that the government is trying to get students into PBSA but of course there isn’t the available accommodation.I am aware that this sounds very extreme but can anyone really offer a more credible answer?.

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 07/07/2025 – 11:47
well if I am forced to put down the number of evictions SOUGHT and where possession had to be gained, then so be it. Each will come with a full explanation too.

Every single S21 I have ever issued has been for either rent arrears or breaches in tenancy (damage/asbo) for which there is clear evidence.

If that puts off a tenant applying for accommodation in any of my rentals – fine with me. If anything it shows I am fair, but take no sh*t.

Tenants have obligations as per tenancy agreement and if they don’t uphold these, then I will pursue this. They are responsible for their own actions!

I am not sure what the problem was which the Renters Reform/Rights Bill is supposed to solve.

The Private Rental Sector was very successful under Legislation bought on by Thatcher. Private Rental went from 5% to 40%.
Then Osbourne Started with Section 24. Then Gove jumped in with wholesale Selective Licences. and more regulation I think 450 approximately.
Results so far Nothing to Rent. and Higher Rents .
Labour solution more of the same but finish Private Landlords off with Taxes and fines for good.
Within 5 years I believe there will be 30 to 40% fewer private rental homes. And Gradually it will go back to pre Thatcher .
The only help of salvation for Landlords and Tenants are if Reform are voted in and they do what they say .