Renters’ Rights Bill 2024
Justine Benbough • 4 December 2024
Renters’ Rights Bill 2024 – A brief overview of proposed changes
By Justine Benbough
What is it?
- Proposes changes to the UK rental market
- Likely to come into force Spring 2025
- Current ASTs likely to become periodic assured tenancies overnight
Key Changes
- Abolishes fixed term assured shorthold tenancy
- Replaces this with a periodic assured tenancy
- Abolishes non fault evictions (the old Section 21 procedure)
- Requires landlords to prove grounds for eviction under Section 8
Section 8 Grounds for Possession
- Makes changes to existing grounds
- Introduces new grounds
- Introduces longer notice periods
- No longer accelerated ‘paper’ procedure
- In person possession hearings only
Rent Arrears (Ground 8)
- Remains a mandatory ground but now tenants must be at least 3 months (13 weeks) in arrears (no longer 2 months/8 weeks)
- Landlord to give 4 weeks’ notice (no longer 14 days)
Student Accommodation
- Applies to full time students living in an HMO
- Possession can be obtained under Ground 4A
- Require landlords to serve prior notice of intention to relet to students at start of new academic year
- Section 8 notice to end tenancy must give 4 months’ notice to expire within the holiday period (1st June and 30th September)
Pets & Discrimination
- Cannot be a barrier to renting
- Landlord cannot unreasonably refuse
Rent Reform
- Introduces a bar on rent bidding
- Rent review clauses no longer apply
- Introduces rent increase mechanism and procedure for challenging
Landlords’ Duties
- To provide tenants with written statement of terms and certain information
- Non-compliance with landlord’s duties and rules on service of notices can lead to financial penalties
- Expands Awaab’s Law to private sector
Local Authority Powers
- Increased by enforcing civil penalties for landlord’s failing to comply with the regulations
Landlord Redress Scheme
- Landlord required to register with scheme
- Deals with tenant complaints
If you require any further information or legal advice on any of the points raised, please contact Justine Benbough on justine.benbough@paddleandcocks.co.uk or telephone 0333 344 9429 quoting JEB.
