The Renters (Reform) Bill will deliver the Government’s manifesto commitment to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. This is something I wholeheartedly stand behind, and I note that abolishing ‘no fault’ evictions is supported by the majority of the British public according to recent Ipsos polling.
Through the Renters (Reform) Bill, Section 21 evictions will be abolished and the private rented sector will move to a system of periodic tenancies, which do not have an end date. In doing this, it is important to ensure landlords retain their right to swiftly get their properties back where they need to. The Bill will introduce more comprehensive possession grounds for landlords, including strengthened grounds to deal with anti-social behaviour. I believe these reforms will benefit tenants too, as it will help retain landlords’ confidence in the sector and support a healthy rental market.
The Government has recently confirmed that it will oversee reforms to the courts before the abolition of Section 21 is implemented. While the vast majority of tenancies end without involving the courts, I agree with Ministers that a fast and efficient court system is critical to making sure the new system works in practice. This is vital to ensuring the Renters (Reform) Bill is a success and that it delivers the fairer private rented sector that landlords and tenants deserve. The Government has started work on these reforms, with an initial commitment of £1.2 million.
More widely, the Bill will introduce other changes to support the sector as a whole. For example, it will give tenants the right to request a pet, while giving landlords the ability to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property. The Government will also set up a Private Rented Property Portal to help landlords understand their legal obligations and demonstrate compliance, giving good landlords confidence in their position. The portal will provide tenants with better information to help them make informed decisions when entering into a tenancy agreement.
I believe that, together, these reforms will provide tenants with more security, while supporting responsible landlords who constitute the overwhelming majority of the sector.