The Renters’ Rights Bill - likely changes

The present government is, seemingly, very committed to making changes to the Law in relation to privately rented houses and flats, and these are contained in the Renters’ Rights Bill. If all the proposed elements of the Bill come into effect, there will be significant changes to the law which governs the relationship between the landlord and tenant of a residential property.

One of the most significant changes will be the abolition of what are commonly referred to as Section 21 Notices. Under the present Law, where a fixed term tenancy of a residential property has come to an end, a landlord can give notice to move out after at least two months have expired, without giving a specific reason. The new Act will set out the grounds on which a landlord can serve notice, and how much notice must be given to a tenant. In many cases this will be expanded to at least four months.

The intention, they say, is to ensure that possession grounds are fair to both landlord and the tenant.

A tenant will have the right to request a pet in the property. A landlord will be duty bound to consider it and cannot unreasonably refuse. It will also be illegal for a landlord to discriminate against a prospective tenant if they have children or are in receipt of benefits.

A further intention is to prohibit a landlord, and their agent, from accepting an offer for rent above the rate that has been advertised.

There are also many more proposed changes. It remains to be seen what changes to the Law do come into effect. Even if only a few of these are eventually enacted, it is clear that the legal relationship between a landlord and a tenant will be substantially different from what it is now.