The last thing your home should be is a source of harm. But that’s the reality for millions of people in England. If you’re a private renter, your landlord doesn’t need a reason to turf you out. The threat of eviction can make people hesitant to ask for improvements. As a result, one in five private rented homes fail decency standards. One in eight contain hazards such as mould, infestation or faulty wiring that are harmful to occupants’ health.
Campaigners have been talking about these problems for years. The government is finally listening. This week, it published the most comprehensive policy proposals for the private rented sector in a generation. The white paper and the forthcoming renters reform bill will abolish section 21, the 1988 law that allows landlords to take back their property without needing a reason to do so. It will create indefinite, German-style tenancies, and put in place a new regulatory framework to improve the quality of private rented homes.
