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Renters’ Rights Bill to Offer Greater Protection

Vicky Parry 17th Jul 2024 No Comments

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The Renters Rights Bill was today front and center of the King’s Speech.

In May no fault evictions were at a six year high, causing huge concerns for campaigners.

But today the mission for renters rights have finally been met, after Rishi Sunak’s government failed to protect renters properly and address the concerns and research presented.

Sir Keir Starmer said ‘too many people currently live with the threat of insecurity and injustice’ when renting their homes.

“We will introduce tough new protections for renters, end no-fault evictions and raise standards to make sure homes are safe for people to live in.”

Responding to the announcement of the Renters’ Rights Bill in the Kings Speech, Ben Twomey, Chief Executive, Generation Rent, said:

“It is welcome to see the end to no-fault evictions included in the government’s plans. After five years of promises from the previous government, with no improvements at the end of it, renters are understandably demoralised and wary of new commitments. The government faces a big test to reassure voters that it can quickly turn promises into action and change things for the better.

“These reforms must therefore go further than the previous government planned, with real support for tenants whose landlord wants to sell or move back in to prevent homelessness. This includes more time to enjoy our homes without fearing eviction, and more notice and financial support if this happens. Similarly, empowering tenants to challenge rent increases won’t work if we still end up with rents rising faster than our incomes.”

Thomas Lawson, chief executive of anti-poverty charity Turn2us, says:

“We welcome the King’s Speech and its dedication to a mission-led government based on the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all. There are some positive measures, including renters reform

MoneyMagpie founder Jasmine Birtles celebrates anything that supports the good of the people but also raises some questions: ’The renters reforms look like a mixed bag to me” She says. “It should be very helpful to have an Ombudsman for renters and landlords alike and it’s definitely important to have rules about how long landlords should take to sort out mould and other dangerous repairs that need to be made. It’s certainly fair that renters should be able to challenge rent rises if they are not in keeping with market rates or matched by the state of the property they rent. As an animal lover I’m happy about the pets element too!

“However, I think that the unintended consequence of abolishing no-fault evictions will be a massive reduction in properties available to rent as many smaller landlords in particular will sell up because of it. Landlords often need to take possession of their property, or they simply want to sell it, and if they feel imprisoned by a tenant who will not leave, and they cannot be moved, it will put them off having long-term tenants or even owning property to rent. It’s likely that small landlords will give up, which will either mean a huge reduction in rental properties on the market or it will mean another shift of wealth from small, individual investors to large corporations. This transfer of wealth and assets from individuals to corporations is happening in a number of sectors and, to my mind, it’s a sad move.”