Following our updates in respect of the end of section 21 evictions in June and August of 2022, the Renters (Reform) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 17 May 2023 by the Secretary for State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

 

The key aspects of Reform which the Bill currently proposes are:

 

• The abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions
• There will only be assured tenancies only rather than Assured Shorthold Tenancies or Fixed Term Tenancies
• All tenancy agreements must be written in future, not oral
• Tenants will be able to terminate the tenancy with 2 months’ notice
• There will be a Property Database (compulsory for landlords to join) which will provide tenants with information about their landlord’s identity and compliance with key legislative requirements
• There will be greater use of the Property Ombudsman for disputes
• Tenants will have the right to request to keep a pet, which the landlord must have a valid reason to refuse
• There are 32 proposed grounds for eviction
• Rent can only be increased by serving notice under s.13 HA 1988 and rent increases will be limited to once per year

 

Of the proposed amendments to evictions, some of the key changes are:

 

• Grounds 8, 10 and 11 in respect of rental arrears will remain but the notice period will change from 2 weeks to 4 weeks.
• Ground 8A will be introduced which means that possession must be granted if there are three separate instances of at least 2 months’ of arrears over a 3 year period
• Landlords can obtain a mandatory possession order if they or their close family member wishes to move into the property (Ground 1), they wish to sell the property (Ground 1A), for redevelopment (Ground 6) or compliance with enforcement action (Ground 6A).

 

If passed, the Act will apply for any new tenancies on or after the commencement date. For existing tenancies it will apply ‘on or after the extended application date’ which is at the expiry of the existing fixed term, or on a date to be set out in regulations.

 

The bill is currently in the 2^nd reading of the House of Commons, we will keep you updated as it progresses through Parliament.

 

You can review the bill here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0308/220308.pdf