Measures to tackle unscrupulous private landlords who evict tenants without giving a reason or who let unsafe homes, will be introduced under government proposals aimed at giving a better deal for millions of renters in England.
The centrepiece of the fairer private rented sector white paper, published by the government on Thursday, is the outlawing of “no-fault” evictions – currently the biggest single cause of homelessness in England.
The long-delayed paper will also set out proposals to force private landlords to improve the quality of damp, dirty and unfit homes where conditions put the health of tenants at risk. A fifth of all private rented properties are estimated to be of substandard quality.
Other measures include tackling arbitrary and unfair rent increases, and steps to outlaw “no DSS” policies whereby landlords operate a blanket ban on letting homes to people receiving benefits. All tenants will have the right to request having a pet in the home, which landlords will not be able to “unreasonably refuse”.
Michael Gove, the levelling up and housing secretary, said: “For too long many private renters have been at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords who fail to repair homes and let families live in damp, unsafe and cold properties, with the threat of unfair ‘no fault’ evictions orders hanging over them.
“Our new deal for renters will help to end this injustice by improving the rights and conditions for millions of renters as we level up across the country and deliver on the people’s priorities.”
Campaigners have welcomed the proposals, which are expected to be introduced in a renters reform bill later this year, more than three years since the government first pledged to end no-fault evictions.
Polly Neate, the chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: “The renters reform bill is a game-changer for England’s 11 million private renters. Scrapping unfair evictions will level the playing field. For the first time in a long time tenants will be able to stand up to bad behaviour instead of living in fear.
“This white paper promises people safety and security in their home, and it makes clear that landlords need to play by the rules. Gone will be the days of families being uprooted and children forced to move school after being slapped with a section 21 no-fault eviction for no good reason.”
Alicia Kennedy, the director of Generation Rent, said there was much to welcome. “However, we’re disappointed with the detail around the new proposed ‘no fault’ grounds which allow landlords to evict tenants to sell, or to move a family in. The government proposals still mean a renter could be evicted every eight months due to no fault of their own.”
Under section 21 of the Housing Act, private landlords have, since the late 1980s, been able to evict tenants with just two months’ notice even if they have no grounds for ending the tenancy.
Common reasons for pursuing section 21 evictions include rent arrears, or the landlord wanting to sell the property or re-let at a higher rent. Some tenants have said they were evicted as “revenge” for requesting repairs.
The bill will extend the “decent homes standard” to the private rented sector requiring private landlords to keep homes clean, free from serious health and safety hazards, and in a good state of repair. Tenants will be able to take legal action to seek repayment of rent if their homes are substandard.
