“ONCE IN A GENERATION” REFORMS INTRODUCED TO PARLIAMENT

The government has introduced the Renters’ (Reform) Bill today on 17 May 2023. These “once-in-a-generation” reforms aim to deliver “safer, fairer, and higher quality homes”.

The Bill has been published as a House of Commons paper. The second reading – where MPs will debate the general principles and themes of the Bill – will be held on Thursday 18 May 2023. We will be busy digesting the contents over the next few days and will bring you our thoughts, we would love to hear yours, or if you have any questions we will do our best to answer them.

Michael Gove has said that “Our new laws introduced to Parliament today will support the vast majority of responsible landlords who provide quality homes to their tenants, while delivering our manifesto commitment to abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.”

The details confirmed in the Bill include:

• Abolishing section 21 “no fault evictions”
• A move to periodic tenancies and the removal of assured short-hold tenancies
• Strengthening section 8 grounds – particularly for anti-social tenants
• Reforming the courts process – with new digital processes to reduce delays
• A new Ombudsman and digital Property Portal
• Further legal rights for tenants to request a pet in their rental property –  with tenants expected to get pet insurance or to pay for the landlord’s pet damage insurance
• Applying the Decent Homes Standard to private rented sector for the first time
• Stopping landlords and agents from issuing blanket bans for tenants on benefits, or with families
• Strengthening enforcement powers for councils

If you are unfamiliar with how a bill becomes law, and would like to understand the journey through parliament to royal assent, check out this handy explainer video from the telegraph