'Once in a lifetime' renters' shakeup put forward after years of Tory dithering
A "once-in-a-generation" overhaul of housing laws has FINALLY been unveiled by the Government after years of dithering - but critics warn it'll make shortages worse if it's botched. .
Ministers claim 11 million tenants across England will get "safer, fairer and higher quality" homes with no-fault evictions set to be scrapped - four years after the Tories promised to do so.
Renters will also get new rights to challenge landlords if properties aren't up to scratch without fear of losing their home.
New legislation - the Renters’ (Reform) Bill - put forward today will also make it easier for landlords to recover properties so they can sell it or move family members in.
Notice periods will also be reduced if tenants are found to have been "irresponsible", the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said.
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It comes after Michael Gove admitted there isn't enough housing in the UK (Thomas Krych/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)The Tories promised back in 2019 that section 21 "no fault" evictions would be abolished.
The new legislation will also see a new Ombudsman provide "quicker and cheaper" resolutions to disputes - but critics say measures could make the housing crisis even worse.
For the first time a Decent Homes Standard will be applied in the private rented sector, and it will be illegal for landlords to refuse would-be tenants because they are on benefits or have children.
Councils will also have more powers to tackle rogue landlords if the bill is passed.
It comes hot-on-the heels of Mr Gove admitting that there aren't enough homes in the UK to meet demand.
Labour's shadow housing minister Lisa Nandy said: “The government first promised reform for tenants in the private rented sector over four years ago.
"But after years of delay, broken promises and arguments amongst themselves, the private rented sector increasingly resembles the wild west and it’s far from clear that this government can deliver."
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “Responsible landlords need to be confident that when Section 21 ends, where they have a legitimate reason, they will be able to repossess their properties as quickly as possible.
Labour's Lisa Nandy has said the legislation has been too long coming (PA)"Without this assurance, the Bill will only exacerbate the rental housing supply crisis many tenants now face.
“Whilst we welcome the Government’s pledge to ensure landlords can effectively recover properties from anti-social tenants and those failing to pay rent, more detail is needed if the Bill is going to work as intended."
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Polly Neate, chief executive of charity Shelter cautiously welcomed the bill, but said it has taken too long to produce.
She said: "A strong bill would be a gamechanger, meaning tenants can live without fear their homes could make them sick, families feel able to put down roots in their communities, and worries about being unfairly evicted are a thing of the past.
“For far too long Shelter’s emergency advisers have helped renters facing anguish and uncertainty, paying sky-high rents in return for poor living conditions, with no protection or security if they complain."
She said the bill must actually deliver change, stating: "The government must keep renters at the forefront to make sure this bill has the teeth needed for real change.”
Housing Secretary Mr Gove admitted yesterday: "There is a problem and the problem is there simply aren't enough homes in this country.
"It is increasingly difficult to get on the property ladder."
It comes after Mr Gove and the Prime Minister scrapped house-building targets last year in the face of a Conservative backbench rebellion.
He said the proposed legislation would be a lifeline to renters who have been faced with the nightmare of potential eviction.
He said: “Too many renters are living in damp, unsafe, cold homes, powerless to put things right, and with the threat of sudden eviction hanging over them.
“This Government is determined to tackle these injustices by offering a New Deal to those living in the Private Rented Sector; one with quality, affordability, and fairness at its heart.
“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.
“This will ensure that everyone can live somewhere which is decent, safe and secure – a place they’re truly proud to call home.”
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