I would like to wish Reading Today readers a belated happy New Year.
Parliament has now been back for several weeks and I have been pleased at the progress the Government has been making on helping renters, through the progress of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which was passed on its Third Reading in the House of Commons after a series of amendments were considered at the Report Stage. This is the most significant package of reforms to the private rented sector in over 40 years and it will provide greater security and stability for more than 11 million private renters.
Residents across Reading regularly contact my office to share their experiences of renting in our town, which can be challenging for those who are stuck in poor quality homes or who are living day in, day out with the knowledge that they and their families could be uprooted with little notice and minimal justification.
I share the Government’s determination to address the insecurity and injustice that far too many renters experience by fundamentally reforming the private rented sector and improving the quality of housing in it.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will modernise the regulation of the private rented sector, delivering for renters as well as for good landlords, most of whom provide good-quality homes for their tenants. This Bill will abolish Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’ and fixed terms, thereby removing the threat of arbitrary evictions, increasing tenant security and stability, and ensuring that possession grounds are fair to both parties.
The new tenancy system will allow tenants greater flexibility, by enabling them to give two months’ notice at any point. The Bill also contains measures that will empower tenants to challenge egregious rent rises and end the practice of rental bidding by prohibiting landlords and agents from asking for or accepting offers above the advertised rent.
It will also make it illegal for landlords and agents to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits or with children, helping to ensure everyone is treated fairly when looking for a place to live.
The legislation will ensure that we can drive up the quality of privately rented housing by applying the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector. The Bill will also apply ‘Awaab’s Law’ to the sector, setting clear legal expectations about the timeframes within which landlords must take action to make homes safe where they contain serious hazards.
This legislation will give tenants more power to raise complaints against the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against renters. The Bill will introduce a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman that will provide quick, fair, impartial and binding resolution for tenants’ complaints about their landlord. It will also establish new investigatory powers that will make it easier for councils to identify and fine unscrupulous landlords.
The Bill will also provide benefits for responsible landlords who provide high-quality homes and a good service to their tenants by ensuring that they enjoy simpler regulation.
I supported the key Government amendments that were made to this legislation at the Bill’s Third Reading on the 14th of January. These amendments will protect tenants from demands for large amounts of rent in advance; stop students being pressured to sign a tenancy agreement far in advance of it commencing; and protect bereaved families by limiting a guarantor’s liability in the event of a tenant’s death.
This legislation will transform the experience of private renting in England, and I am pleased that we have taken another step towards delivering on that commitment.
Matt Rodda is Labour MP for Reading Central
