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Think-tank calls for more renters’ rights and new law

A think-tank, UK Onward, has called for radical rental reform.

In a statement released to coincide with today’s Queen’s Speech, the think-tank has linked with campaigning charity Shelter to demand that the Renters’ Reform Bill be introduced as soon as possible.

It says the government should seek to offer greater security for the “middle tier” of residents between social housing and those who can afford to buy.

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It also says Section 21 must be abolished, and the court process improved.

The think-tank makes three particular demands: 

- Security. “For tenants, this means having protection from no-fault evictions. For landlords, this means certainty and stability in repossession claims. These changes should come through abolishing Section 21 and reforms to Section 8 notices”;

- Clarity. “This involves modernising how the sector is regulated and the court processes associated with civil private rented disputes. This could involve challenging evictions in different ways, such as mediation settlements, rather than contested settlements. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill is crucial for ensuring these options are debated properly”;

 

- Strengthen. “At the moment, the housing market remains insecure for a sizable number of families. Previously, social housing would have delivered greater security to these tenants, but this is often no longer available. More affordable and better-quality housing should be encouraged as part of the levelling up agenda, particularly in left-behind areas. This is the most sustainable way of rebalancing the housing market and local economy. There must also be a clear springboard for homeownership too.”

You can see the full report here.

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  • George Dawes

    In my experience these think tanks don't do much real world thinking

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    I would think very few landlords have ever evicted a tenant for no reason, I've used sec 21 in the past to evict non paying tenants simple because I have found it easier and quicker than sec 8 , so what changes does the ''think tank'' what with sec 8, will it be made easier and quicker to evict a non payer ? some how I doubt that.

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    Non-payment usually is a symptom of much deeper challenges. IMHO non-payment should be a separate case and dealt with quicker than other eviction types. There needs to be a balance between both parties to the rental agreement. Discourse happens when the law is perceived to be giving more to one side than the other.

     
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    Its not to make anything easier, its to make it more difficult obviously. Everything they have done since Deputy Premier John Prescott 2004 Act proves that. The proof of the pudding is in the eating so we have had plenty to chew over.

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