Renters' Rights Act: Labour's landmark rental reforms receive royal assent and finally become law
The Renters’ Rights Bill is finally law, ending tenants’ long wait for reforms. But for some renters, like Big Issue vendor Preda Illie, the legislation may come too late
The Renters’ Rights Bill is finally the Renters’ Rights Act after King Charles granted royal assent to rental reforms that have been on the cards for more than six years.
Former prime minister Theresa May first promised to scrap section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions back in April 2019 before the Conservatives failed to pass the Renters Reform Bill.
Labour picked up the mantle with the Renters’ Rights Bill, introducing the legislation to parliament back in September last year. The bill completed its journey through parliament last week and was granted royal assent at 7.40pm on Monday (27 October) evening.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Every family deserves the dignity of a safe and secure home.
“For too long, millions of renters have lived at the mercy of rogue landlords or insecure contracts, with their futures hanging in the balance. We’re putting an end to that.
“A secure home isn’t just bricks and mortar – it’s the foundation for opportunity, safety and a better life. No child should grow up without one.”
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The Renters’ Rights Act will abolish no-fault evictions, which allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason and are considered a leading driver of homelessness.
The act will also aim to drive up standards through Awaab’s Law and a new decent homes standard, prevent landlords and letting agents stoking bidding wars and give tenants more security and rights, including to keep a pet.
Tom Darling, director at the Renters Reform Coalition (RRC), said: “This is a generational upgrade to renters’ rights – its passage today is fantastic news for England’s 12 million renters, as well as the members of the Renters’ Reform Coalition who have been campaigning for these changes for a decade.
“Our thanks to the government for finally getting this landmark legislation, which has faced stiff opposition at various points, over the finishing line.
“For far too long, tenants in England have been afraid to challenge their landlords or ask for essential repairs for fear of a section 21 no-fault eviction. Once the new law comes into force, section 21 will finally be consigned to the dustbin of history, and renters will gain crucial protections, as well as new powers to hold dodgy landlords to account.”
The government has already said that some parts of the bill will come into force at a later date with an implementation period to allow landlords and letting agents time to adjust to the new rules.
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“This is the most significant shake-up of the rental market in almost 40 years, and it is imperative that the new systems work for both tenants and responsible landlords,” he said.
But that means that some renters who are already facing a section 21 eviction may still be kicked out of their home in the meantime.
It’s the situation Big Issue vendor Preda Illie, 45, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and his family find themselves in.
The landlord told Illie that he is looking to evict his family to make way for his own daughter to live there.
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Under the new rules, landlords will still be able to evict renters in order to sell the property or if they or family members are moving into it.
But they will not be allowed to evict under these grounds within the first year of a tenancy and will need to give tenants four months’ notice. The law also includes safeguards to try to prevent landlords from abusing these eviction grounds.
The change of the law is likely to come too late for Illie and his family.
The Renters’ Rights Act’s arrival is good news for renters. But Big Issue vendor Preda Illie and his family are still facing a section 21 eviction in the next month. Image: Juliette Pedram
“I’ll be honest: all of my family are very stressed with this situation. It’s not very easy for me,” said Illie, who sells the Big Issue outside M&S in Alnwick, Northumberland.
“When my wife sees the landlord she is very scared that he will kick us out onto the street. I’ve given the landlord a ring many, many times to explain my situation. I’ve provided a lot of documents.
“I’ve asked him to give me more time. He said: “You have to leave, because otherwise I will put the rent up to like £1,000 or £1,200. For me, there’s no chance to pay this money.”
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Illie has approached the local council for help and plans to ask the landlord for more time if he cannot find a new home.
“I received the section 21 notice in June and I asked to have a chat with the landlord to see why,” said Illie. “I have a family and it’s not very easy to put me on the streets. I asked him to give me more time. I’ve paid about £800 a month for 15 years. But the landlord told me he is sorry and he wants his daughter to move into the house.
“The landlord is friendly with me because it’s been 15 years that I’ve lived in his house and I pay every month, not missing any months. For that I believe you have to have respect as well. I’m explaining, “Please, just in case, if nothing happens on 4 November, give me more time”.
“I’m explaining the situation to Newcastle City Council and hopefully it will be fine. I’m on the waiting list for a council house.”
Other measures in the Renters’ Rights Act are designed to tip the balance of power away from landlords and towards tenants.
Discrimination against letting properties to renters on benefits or with children will be banned and a new private renting ombudsman will be introduced for tenants to contact when there is a dispute with their landlord.
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A new landlord register will also be created while all tenancies will now be open-ended rather than fixed-term.
Sarah Elliott, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The Renters’ Rights Act is the victory of a lifetime for renters who have fought for years for better protections. We are grateful to the government for making these landmark changes a reality.
“Once implemented, England’s renters will finally be unshackled from the gross injustice of no fault evictions that have made thousands homeless. And with protections from discrimination shored up, parents and renters on low incomes will be more able to get a foot in the door.
“We look forward to the government setting a date for when these changes will come into force, and when renters will finally get the security they deserve. Until then, we will be doing everything we can to help tenants understand their new rights.”
The Renters’ Rights Act has faced criticism from failing to shield renters from record-high rents.
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New Office for National Statistics showed last week that the average rent across the UK is 1,354 a month and rose 5.5% in the year up to September this year.
Polling commissioned by the RRC has found that nearly a third of private renters – an estimated 3.8 million people – “always” or “often” struggle to afford essentials like groceries due to the amount they spend on rent.
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent – one of the organisations that form part of the coalition, said: “Today is a landmark day for renters across England. This new law is a vital step towards re-balancing power between renters and landlords and should be celebrated.
“This new law didn’t appear out of thin air. It is the result of years of tireless campaigning from the renter movement, alongside the dedication and strength of ordinary renters. Our work is far from done, particularly in challenging the unchecked and soaring cost of renting, but I hope that renters across England can rest a little easier tonight in recognition of what we have achieved together.”
