Government to press ahead with abolition of ‘no fault’ eviction with publication of Renters’ Reform Bill

Government plans to abolish section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions of tenants in a Renters’ Reform Bill published this week have been welcomed by local government and social housing providers.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove said the abolition of ‘no fault’ evictions would “empower renters to challenge poor landlords without fear of losing their home”.

Mr Gove said the Bill would also make it easier for landlords to recover properties if they needed to sell, move in a family member, or where tenants wilfully failed to pay rent.

Notice periods would be reduced where tenants have been irresponsible – for example causing damage to the property.

The Government intends more of the process will be digitised where evictions end up in the courts.

There will also be a new ombudsman created for the private rental sector, who is expected to be able to provide quicker and cheaper resolutions to disputes.

A new digital Property Portal “will enable landlords to understand their obligations and help tenants make better decisions when signing a new tenancy agreement”.

Councils will get stronger enforcement powers but must report on enforcement activity to help target criminal landlords.

Tenants gain a new legal right to request a pet in their home, which the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse, though they can require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property.

The Bill also applies the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time, in a bid to halve the number of non-decent rented homes by 2030.

It will become illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to tenants in receipt of benefits or with children.

Darren Rodwell, the new housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA), which is Labour-led following tis month's local elections, said: “We are pleased to see that the Renters’ Reform Bill will take steps to ensure private renters have a home that is safe and stable, increasing the rights of tenants and enabling people to better hold their landlord to account.

“The removal of ‘no fault’ evictions is a significant step towards tackling our national homelessness crisis, and we are also glad to see the introduction of an ombudsman for the private rented sector, as an additional mechanism for tenants to seek appropriate redress from their landlord.

"Improved access to data on the private rented sector and mandated landlord registration through the Property Portal will also increase councils’ oversight of and ability to enforce against the small minority of landlords guilty of criminal behaviour.”

Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “We welcome any change to the law that gives private renters greater security. No fault evictions cause untold upheaval and stress for those renting privately, forcing them to uproot their lives and, for those on low incomes, often putting them at risk of homelessness.”

Ms Henderson said that since 2006, the number of families renting privately had doubled, “largely due to the severe shortage of social housing” and even after the Bill’s reforms, renting privately would typically remain twice as expensive and less secure than renting social housing.

She said: “We urgently need a long-term national plan to build more social rented homes – the only type of home that is suitable, secure and affordable for families on low incomes.”

Mark Smulian