How new rental law will affect you as landlords hit with major blow over maximising profits
The radical bill designed to protect the rights of renters in England has officially become law after more than a year in the making.
Over the next few weeks, the government will announce exactly when we can expect to see all the changes come into fruition, from whether a landlord can evict someone to how long they can stay in the property.
If you're a private renter living in England, which makes up around 20 percent of households in the UK, the new law will likely impact you in a number of ways.
The move has been described as the biggest shake up to the rental industry in England for more than three decades, with the number of people renting their homes doubling since the millenium.
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So, if you fall into that category, how will the Renters' Reform Bill impact you?
Restrictions on no-fault evictions
While landlords will still reserve the right to evict tenants for valid reasons, such as damage to the property, antisocial behaviour, or falling significantly behind on the rent, the rules around no-fault evictions are changing.
The threshold for arrears evictions will change, meaning you'd need to fall behind on three months' rent, rather than the previous two months, before your landlord can start the process to evict you over missed payments.
Once your landlord has given notice, you would have four months to leave the home, before a court will decide whether it is reasonable to order possession of the property.
Meanwhile, under the new laws, landlords will no longer be able to sell their property within 12 months of a new tenant moving in, and once the first year is up, they will have to give at least four months' notice. So whenever you move into a new property, you will be protected for the first year.
The bill will also protect you from being evicted for complaining about poor living conditions.
Awaab's Law is also being introduced in memory of two-year-old Awaab, who died after prolonged mould exposure in his home in Rochdale. The law will force landlords to fix reported damp, mould and emergency repairs within strict timeframes.
How long you can rent for
When you move into a property, you will now be placed on a 'periodic' or rolling contract, rather than being forced to sign up for a fixed six, 12 or 24 month contract, which means you can essentially stay for as long as you please.
If you do decide to leave the property, you can give two months' notice to your landlord instead of being forced to wait until the fixed time period is up.
According to the government, this will 'end the injustice of tenants being trapped paying rent for substandard properties,' as per the BBC.
End to bidding wars
In cities where demand for accomodation is significantly higher than the number of properties available, many people have been forced to bid over and beyond the price being advertised to secure a tenancy.
The new laws will put an end to this by enforcing a set price that is made clear to anyone interested in the property from the start.
Restrictions on increasing the rent
Under the new law, landlords will only be able to raise your rent once a year and they will only be permitted to do so to match 'the market rate.' Landlords will also need to give you at least two months' notice for making any increases.
Meanwhile, if you feel the increase goes beyond the market rate, you can challenge it at a first-tier tribunal in the civil courts and a judge will determine whether the increase in rent is justifiable.
Other changes
Some other noteworthy changes mean it is now illegal for landlords to discriminate against potential tenants for having children or for receiving benefits.
Landlords still have the final say on who can and can't rent their properties, and will be able to perform reference and affordability checks but must not turn people down for the named reasons.
Meanwhile, landlords must consider any requests you make for keeping a pet in the property and they cannot 'unreasonably' refuse.
Topics: UK News
Emma Rosemurgey