Government says “we are listening” on renters’ reform bill
The government has said it is listening to feedback about the upcoming reforms to the housing market, that will see the abolition of Section 21 evictions.
Eddie Hughes, parliamentary under secretary of state for rough sleeping and housing, was challenged in parliament on when the government will finally release the renters’ reform bill, which should spell an end to so-called ‘no fault evictions’.
He said: “In 2019, we consulted the public on our proposed reforms to the tenancy framework and how we should take it forward.
“About 20,000 people gave us their views, and we are listening.”
Perhaps worryingly for landlords, Hughes pledged to “shift the odds in favour of renters and deliver a better deal for them”.
He also vowed to protect tenants from “sharp practice” and remove criminal landlords from the sector.
Hughes was challenged by Catherine West, shadow minister of foreign and commonwealth affairs.
West spoke about residents living in a block of flats in Hornsey and Wood Green in London. After their building was sold to a new landlord, they received either section 21 notices or section 13 notices saying that their rent would soar by an eye-watering 30% to 40%.
She said: “This example highlights the huge power imbalance between private landlords and their tenants, which is currently upheld by existing housing legislation.
“That is why I am urging the government to end section 21 notices, as they committed in their 2019 general election manifesto.”
On the issue of rent rises, Hughes noted that if a tenant does not agree with a rent rise, they can refer the issue to the property chamber of the first-tier tribunal for independent adjudication. The tribunal will consider the application and decide what the maximum rent of that property should be if let on the open market
However he stated that “it is for landlords and tenants to agree the amount of rent that should be charged at the outset of a tenancy”.
Original story by Ryan Bembridge, PropertyInvestorPost
