In September, we wrote about the planned Renters’ Reform Bill and the changes it could bring to the private rental market.
These include the introduction of a ‘Register of Landlords’, a ‘Private Rented Ombudsman’ and providing local authorities with greater powers to protect people renting in the private property market. The Bill will also make it illegal for landlords and agents to refuse to rent a property to someone who receives benefits. For TM Law’s clients, the most substantial change within the planned Bill is the likely abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.
As we mentioned at the time, from an objective standpoint, we don’t think the proposed changes within the Bill will see any significant changes for good, professional landlords.
They will still be able to evict problem tenants from their properties, with the formal grounds for doing so expanded under Section 8 eviction notices. Landlords who wish to sell their properties or re-utilise them as family homes will also continue to be able to do so. However, the most significant impact on landlords will be that the actual mechanism for eviction will be a longer, more formal, and potentially more costly process every time.
Over the past few weeks, it has become less clear whether the Renters’ Reform Bill will eventually go ahead. On 11 October, having been told that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was looking to U-turn on its commitment to ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, The Times’ political editor Tweeted, “The Times has been told that they [scrapping Section 21 evictions] are not considered a priority & could be killed off entirely, despite being a manifesto commitment”.
The government rapidly denied this, with Prime Minister Liz Truss reaffirming the commitment to get rid of no-fault evictions at Prime Ministers’ questions the following day. Nonetheless, experts believe a U-turn on banning Section 21 no-fault evictions was being considered in Whitehall (perhaps because the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities had its third Secretary of State in as many months) but was quickly abandoned when significant criticism of the move arose amongst some Conservative MPs, the opposition, and those campaigning for better protection for private renters.
So, within 24 hours, plans for the Bill went a full 360 degrees, and we ended up back where we were in September, with the Renters’ Reform Bill still on the agenda for the current Parliamentary session. However, time will tell whether or not this takes place. After all, a great deal has happened in Government since the Renters Reform Bill was included in the Queen’s Speech in May 2022. Priorities may have changed at the top of Government, and parliament only has so much time for new legislation to be introduced, debated, and voted upon.
Whatever happens, having been helping private landlords regain possession of their properties for more than 20 years, Terry Maylin at TM Law will keep abreast of the legal and legislative changes that may affect residential landlords so that his clients don’t have to.
If the Renters’ Reform Bill eventually becomes law, TM Law will guide clients through new processes, procedures, technicalities, and timescales to regain possession of their properties. If it doesn’t, we will continue to help clients resolve their property issues with the expert knowledge, help, and advice they know we provide.
If you would like advice, assistance or more information about how TM Law can help you, please call Terry on 01702 568220 or email him at info@tm-law.co.uk.
TM Law Ltd is a member of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the regulatory body for solicitors in England and Wales.
