During the King’s Speech on Wednesday 17 July, the UK Government announced that it intended to legislate a new Renters’ Rights Bill.  

If it passes through Parliament, this could become a significant law that is going to impact the lives of many people who rent their homes. 

What does the Renters’ Rights Bill mean for me if it becomes law?  

For those who are renting property or intend to rent property, the UK Government aims to change to the law to offer stronger protection from landlords who may unfairly try to evict tenants. It also hopes to make the entire system easier for potential tenants with pets and/or children to reside in rental properties, as well as better protect rental homes from damp and mould.  

Why do the main political parties want to reform the private rented sector?  

There is a general agreement among the main parties that tenants face a potential lack of security when they rent property.  

Why did the last government fail to pass its own Renters’ Reform Bill?  

When the last government tried to implement the Renters’ (Reform) Bill, which contained many provisions similar to what Labour hope to achieve with their new Renters’ Rights Bill, such as making it harder for landlords to evict tenants and making it easier for owned pets to live with tenants. However, they failed to pass it through parliament due to a lack of time needed before the general election. There also wasn’t essential clarity on the precise content and how it might fully work in practice.  

What obstacles could the UK Government face when enacting this law?  

Currently, under a provision called Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, a landlord can evict a tenant by providing two months’ notice once their contract has ended, usually within a certain time frame or ‘fixed term’. This is the provision Labour wants to scrap so that landlords will be prevented from asking tenants to leave unless they have broken a specific rule.    

However, such a move could have potential to cause unintended consequences like the court system being overwhelmed with claims from landlords. This is why Propertymark believes there should be a separate housing court to process claims efficiently and effectively.  

How a Propertymark-certified letting agent can make a difference 

With so much legislation being proposed by the new UK Government, it is vital that consumers and landlords are protected throughout the lettings process. If a letting agent is Propertymark certified, then that means they have a suitable qualification and they are knowledgeable about how the law affects the housing sector.  

Propertymark has long campaigned for balanced legislation when it comes to safeguarding the rights of both landlords and tenants. While many tenants do not deserve to feel at risk of losing the roof over their head, there must also be adequate provisions in place to ensure the law provides fairness and balance to both tenants and landlords at all times. There must be a workable system in place that will not pile additional workload on an already under pressure court system. 

To find a fully qualified letting agent, please visit https://www.propertymark.co.uk/find-an-expert.html.  

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* Nathan Emerson is chief executive of Propertymark *