15th April 2025 ❘ Legal News and Commentary
The Renters Rights Bill 2025 – where are we now?
The Renters Rights Bill 2025 – where are we now?
The Renters Rights Bill 2025 is currently headed to the committee phase in the House of Lords. Once finalised, it is expected that there will be significant provisions to change the law about rented homes which will include abolishing fixed term assured tenancies and assured shorthold tenancies.
Currently it is anticipated that the Bill may be brought into force from some time in summer 2025 with a stop gap of October 2025.
What does this mean for Landlords?
To summarise some of the changes are likely to include the following:
- Abolish Section 21 evictions
- Ensure repossession grounds are fair for both parties
- Provide stronger protection for tenants against backdoor eviction
- Introduction of a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman
- Creation of a private Rented Sector Database
- Give tenants strengthened rights to request a pet in the property
- Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector
- Apply “Awaab’s Law” to the sector
- Make it illegal for landlords and agents to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits or with children
- End the practice of rental bidding by prohibiting landlords and agents from asking for or accepting offers above the advertised rent.
- Strengthen local authority enforcement
- Strengthen rent repayment orders
When the provisions in the Bill take effect, this will have a huge impact on residential landlords’ rights. In particular, one of the greatest changes will mean that Landlords will no longer be able to serve a Section 21 Notice (a no-fault eviction notice) to obtain possession of their property from the tenant and that instead will have to rely on specific grounds of possession under a S8 Notice.
What can Landlord’s do now? How can we help?
- For now, we can continue to assist residential landlords with Section 21 no fault notices as usual, and where appropriate, we would advise if repossession in this manner is required then it is dealt with as soon as possible.
- Ideally Landlords would want to complete the entire s.21 process, from notice to eviction, prior to the Renters Rights Bill coming into force.
For further advice you’re welcome to contact Laura Rose in our Dispute Resolution team on 01228 587418.