After more than 400 days of debate in parliament, the Renters’ Rights Bill finally received Royal Assent on 27 October, becoming law as the Renters’ Rights Act. This Act has been hailed as the biggest shake-up to the private rented sector in years, making major changes to how renting works in England.
One of the reforms making headlines is the end of “No-Fault” evictions. Landlords will no longer be able to use Section 21 notices to evict tenants without reason. Instead, new grounds for eviction will be introduced under Section 8. The Act also abolishes assured short-term tenancies (AST’s), meaning all existing agreements will automatically convert into periodic tenancies.
Rent increases will now follow a statutory process, giving tenants more protection against sudden hikes. A “decent homes standard” is set to be introduced for the private rented sector, although this may not come into effect until the 2030s. The Act also brings in Awaab’s law, aimed at tackling unsafe housing conditions, and requires landlords to properly consider requests from tenants who want to keep pets. Importantly, it also strengthens protections against discrimination, ensuring tenants cannot be treated unfairly because they are parents or receive benefits.
While most of the changes apply to England, the anti-discrimination measures will also extend to Wales and Scotland. The government has said the reforms will not take effect immediately, giving the property industry time to prepare and allowing secondary legislation to be passed. A timetable for when the new rules will come into force is expected soon.
