Renters' (Reform) Bill

A number of our courses refer to Section 21 notices – A Section 21 enables landlords to repossess their properties from assured shorthold tenants without having to establish fault on the part of the tenant. The Renters’ (Reform) Bill will abolish section 21.

The government submitted the Renters (Reform) Bill to parliament for its first reading in May 2023. The bill must then go through the House of Commons and the House of Lords before it achieves royal assent and becomes law. Parliamentary observers estimate that it could take up to 18 months before these new laws for landlords become a part of official UK legislation, other estimate changes will be in place by the Summer of 2024.

After section 21 is abolished, landlords will need to provide their tenants with a “reasonable” reason for ending the tenancy. They can do this under strengthened section 8 rules. A Section 8 eviction notice is passed when you want to evict the tenant because of something they have, or have not, done such as the tenant failing to pay their rent, causing destruction to your property or they are being a nuisance to neighbours. They can do this under strengthened section 8 rules.

Developed in consultation with landlords and tenants, the bill aims to create a fairer and more secure environment, and includes several proposed reforms:

• Introducing a national landlord register and to improve standards and increase transparency.

• Establishing a Private Rented Sector Ombudsman that would be able to provide impartial and binding resolutions to any disputes.

• Doubling the notice period for any rental increases, and preventing tenants being locked into automatic rent increases.

• Improving the security of tenure for tenants by ending “no-fault” evictions.

• Strengthening Section 8 which allows landlords to end a tenancy early if there are legal grounds to do so.

• Move to periodic, rolling tenancies without a specific end date and where the tenant must give at least 2 months’ notice to leave.

• Strengthening the powers of local authorities to enforce standards and take action against rogue landlords.

• Offer tenants the right to request a pet in the property.

For now, Section 21 is still in place. We will update our courses closer to the time to reflect the changes in the law.