Labour's rental reforms not doing enough for disabled tenants, MPs and campaigners warn

Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill has been criticised for not doing enough for disabled people, as MPs prepare to vote on the landmark law.

The government’s new legislation will abolish section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, and cap advance rent payment at one month’s worth of rent, but a number of amendments from lawmakers inside and out of Labour will push it to go further on protecting renters with disabilities.

Mikey Erhardt, a housing campaigner for Disability Rights UK, said Britain’s 16 million disabled people had been let down by the housing system, with just 9% of homes having a basic level of accessibility and a third of disabled renters having an unmet housing need.

“Almost 20% of disabled people rent privately, a percentage which will grow as council waiting lists continue to balloon. The number of proposed amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill demonstrate clearly how it is missing the mark for disabled people,” said Erhart.

“This crisis can’t be fixed by tweaking around the edges; we hope the government sees these amendments as a chance for boldness and courage to forge a new path for the private rented sector.”

The amendments, proposed ahead of a vote for the Renters’ Rights Bill’s third reading on Tuesday (14 January), include one put forward by Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer which would force landlords to let disabled renters make adaptations to their homes.

Disabled renters have faced struggles to make their homes suitable to their needs, with the Conservative government’s disability facilities grant coming under fire for leaving vulnerable people waiting years.

“Currently, the law doesn’t give any protection to disabled people in the private rented sector who need to make adaptations to their home. It is not acceptable that disabled tenants must get permission for the most basic adaptations,” said Denyer.

“My amendment would make sure that if all tenants can put up shelves, then disabled tenants can put up grab rails; if all tenants can replace a shower head, then disabled tenants can put in accessible washing facilities.”

Another amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill, put forward by Labour’s Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome, would stop landlords making it harder for prospective tenants who need home adaptations to rent.

A government survey of private landlords in September 2024 found 44% of landlords were unwilling to rent to somebody needing home adaptations.

Disability campaigners say this measure would bring housing discrimination rules for disabled renters in line with those for people on benefits.

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