What is happening to the Renters Reform Bill?
The government’s Renters Reform Bill has reportedly been altered following a move to address concerns put forward by landlords who have expressed their issues with the bill as it stands. The major legislation included in this bill is the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, which is also supposedly being changed. This follows criticism from MPs who have stated that the Bill would be “too burdensome for landlords”.
Section 21 bans are said to be delayed until the justice secretary “decides whether courts can deal with a rise in repossession claims”, despite the Bill initially aiming to completely abolish the evictions. With this revised plan, landlords would still be able to evict tenants in certain situations, such as wanting to sell the property or needing it for themselves/close family.
In addition to this, revised proposals would put in place a mandatory six-month tenancy period for renters. This would replace the current system where a tenant could leave a property with two months’ notice.
Students could be at risk of facing easier eviction at the end of their academic year, while tenants evicted under new grounds would be entitled to local council homelessness support.
Shelter’s chief executive, Polly Neate, said the proposed changes are ‘cowardly’ and said the government would ‘rather betray renters than stand up to a minority of MPs hell-bent on browbeating them into watering down the Renters (Reform) Bill.’
Matt Downie, the chief executive of Crisis, said: “The Renters (Reform) Bill’s purpose was to give much needed protection to renters, and it’s absolutely vital that it does so. Failing to immediately abolish Section 21 or ‘no-fault’ evictions – the leading cause of homelessness in England – won’t do that.”.
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