The Renters (Reform) Bill (the “Bill”) came about as a result of the 2019 Conservative manifesto commitment seeking to abolish no fault evictions in England. The Government’s plans for reform were set out in the white paper ‘A fairer Private Rented Sector’ in June 2022. On 17 May 2023, the Bill was presented to Parliament by the Government – the first reading. A date for the second reading is still pending, and reports suggest it is unlikely that this will take place until after the King’s Speech which is due to be held on 7 November 2023. With multiple steps still to take place before the Bill is given Royal Assent and passed as law, it accordingly appears that we are now looking at a date late in 2024, early 2025 for this legislation to take effect although again this is questionable.
Amongst seeking to abolish assured shorthold tenancies and in turn ‘no fault’ evictions (otherwise known as section 21 notices), some of the key matters the Bill also seeks to bring to the private rented sector are monthly periodic assured tenancies with no end date, a new annual rent increase process, a new independent ombudsman, strengthened avenues for landlords to re-possess properties for anti-social behaviour and repeatedly built up rent arrears, and requirements on the landlord not to unreasonably refuse consent to keep a pet.
Only time will tell if, and when, the Bill will be brought into effect. In the meantime, landlords still have the option to seek possession of their properties via the ‘no fault’ route for possession subject to having met the various requisite formalities in order to exercise their right to do so, and subject to when and the type of tenancy that was created.
We continue to monitor the progress of the Bill.
If you have any queries on this or any other residential tenancy please contact the Real Estates Disputes team here.