The Renters Reform Bill aims to provide a new deal for private renters. This will end the practice of Landlords evicting tenants without reason.

What is the Renters Reform Bill?

The Renters Reform Bill’s proposals will prohibit blanket bans on applications from families with children and benefit claimants. This will further mean that landlords in England must consider requests from private renters to allow pets.

The Bill is being lauded as the biggest shake up of the private rented sector in 30 years. Housing charity Shelter calls it a ‘game changer’. England currently has 2.3 million private landlords and 4.4 million private rented tenants.

Under current legislation, so called ‘no-fault’ Section 21 notices allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason. The Bill will outlaw this. No-fault evictions in Scotland have been outlawed since December 2017.

Landlords will now need to rely on Section 8 notices in order to evict renters. Under Section 8 Landlords needs a valid reason to evict tenants, such as damaged property, failure to pay rent or anti-social behaviour.

Further, the notice period required for a rent increase is being doubled from one month to two months.

A Government approved Ombudsman is to be created to settle disputes between landlords and tenants without going to court. Membership of the Ombudsman’s scheme will be mandatory for all private landlords.

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