Renters’ Rights Bill Advances at Pace

The Renters’ Rights Bill continues to move quickly through Parliament and is now at the Committee Stage in the House of Lords, where every line of the legislation is being scrutinised. We want to ensure our landlords are informed and prepared, because the changes being proposed are significant and will affect how you let and manage your properties.

One of the headline changes is the proposed abolition of Section 21, meaning landlords will no longer be able to serve no-fault eviction notices. Instead, you’ll need to rely on specific grounds for possession, such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour. While this may seem manageable, there’s a real concern around whether the courts are ready. Possession cases already take months, and the Government has admitted the current system is struggling.

The Bill also introduces a shift away from fixed-term tenancies to a new model of open-ended, periodic tenancies. This change could impact your ability to plan, especially for student lets or seasonal properties. A partial concession has been made for student HMOs, but a third of student housing (those with fewer than three bedrooms) are currently excluded. We’re supporting calls to extend protections to all student lets.

Proposals within the Bill would limit rent increases to once per year, with stronger protections for tenants to challenge any hike they consider unfair. We’ll be here to help ensure your rent review processes are compliant and clearly documented.

All landlords will be required to register their properties with a new digital Property Portal and join a mandatory Private Renters’ Ombudsman scheme.

On top of that, the Decent Homes Standard currently used in social housing will apply to private rentals. That means tougher rules on maintenance, condition, and safety. We’ll work with landlords to assess any changes that might be required to keep your properties compliant.

Many in our industry have welcomed parts of the Bill that protect vulnerable tenants. But the overall feeling is that these reforms, as they currently stand, are being pushed through too quickly and without enough thought for how they will work in practice.

• The NRLA has warned that these changes could drive landlords out of the sector.

• Court delays are already a serious issue—removing Section 21 without sorting the courts will bring delays and backlogs.

• Proposed increases to the rent arrears threshold before eviction can be pursued may discourage landlords from taking on tenants with poor credit histories.

We are actively involved in the debate, through Propertymark and direct communication with policymakers, so that landlords' voices are heard. The good news is that over 200 member letters have already helped raise the profile of these concerns in the House of Lords.

These reforms aren’t law yet, but they’re getting closer. The best thing landlords can do now is:

• Stay informed- we’ll keep you updated as the Bill progresses.
• Start preparing for more robust documentation, property standards, and tenancy management.
• Talk to us- we’re already updating our processes and resources to ensure landlords are fully supported if and when these changes come into force.

For more information or the services we offer, please get in touch with us, and we would love to answer any questions you may have!