In the summer, I wrote to the Minister of State for Housing about the upcoming Renters' Reform Bill, announced in the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019. A number of older constituents had been in touch with me to raise their concerns about the implications of being asked to leave their home at any time with only 2 months’ notice, as per Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
On their behalf, I asked the Minister to consider including within the Bill the following points:
- Any changes must be simple and easy for older residents to understand.
- New or extended grounds for possession do not create a backdoor for ‘no fault evictions’, e.g. landlords only having to provide a very low standard of proof for selling their property.
- Reforms make it easier for private tenants and private landlords to make home adaptations.
- Measure to speed up the courts do not undermine the ability to challenge landlords when tenants feel they have been unfairly treated.
I am pleased that, in his response (which you can read below), the Minister has reaffirmed the Government's commitment to introducing a package of reforms to deliver a better deal for renters, and a fairer and more effective rental market. I am particularly pleased that this will include repealing Section 21, representing a generational change in the law that governs private renting, through enhancing renters’ security and improving protections for short-term tenants by abolishing ‘no-fault’ evictions.
Earlier in the coronavirus outbreak, the Government took decisive action to protect renters by introducing a six-month moratorium on evictions in England and suspending housing possession proceedings. The ban on evictions provided security for millions of people at a time when many were struggling to make ends meet. I am glad that a six-month notice period has now been introduced to protect tenants from evictions over the winter until March 2021, excepting serious cases such as domestic abuse, anti-social behaviour, false statements, over six months of accumulated rent arrears cases and breaches to immigration law. Now that possession cases have resumed, I am encouraged that new arrangements strongly incentivise landlords and tenants to sustain tenancies as far as possible and to discuss their situation before bringing a possession claim to court.
I look forward to seeing the Renters’ Reform Bill brought forward in due course, when the urgent concerns of this emergency have passed, and I am confident it will offer peace of mind to millions of people in the private rented sector, including older people.
As ever, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance on this or any other matter.
