Millions of landlords and tenants will feel the impact of significant new regulations that are now in effect. The Renters’ Rights Act, which commenced on May 1, prohibits “no fault” evictions and obligates landlords to consider allowing tenants to have pets. One tenant shared how a Section 21 eviction caused severe distress after he raised concerns about dampness and mold in his residence. In a separate case, a long-term tenant faced eviction from the home his family had occupied for nearly a decade.
The Citizens Advice organization assisted over 2,300 individuals dealing with Section 21 matters in March. Additionally, they aided more than 1,800 people with housing repairs, over 1,000 with rent adjustments, and provided guidance on the Renters’ Rights Act.
Amy Hughes, the Advice Manager at Citizens Advice, emphasized the significance of the Renters’ Rights Act in empowering tenants and rectifying the historical power imbalance in the private rental sector. Under the new legislation, landlords can only evict tenants for specific reasons such as rent arrears, antisocial behavior, or property sales.
Key changes under the Renters’ Rights Act include the prohibition of Section 21 “no fault” evictions, the conversion of fixed-term tenancies to rolling periodic tenancies, and the requirement for landlords to furnish tenants with essential information. Tenants are now mandated to give two months’ notice before leaving, and landlords must provide a Section 13 notice for rent increases, which can only occur once a year.
Moreover, tenants now have the right to request permission to keep pets, landlords are restricted from demanding more than one month’s rent in advance, and discriminatory rental terms like “no children” or “no benefits” are prohibited. These changes aim to enhance tenant security and address unfair practices in the rental market.
