Michael Gove MP has introduced landmark reforms to deliver fairer private rented sector for tenants and landlords in Surrey Heath.
- Ending 'no fault' evictions, empowering renters to challenge poor landlord practice without fear of losing their home.
- New powers for landlords to reclaim properties from anti-social tenants.
- Ensuring tenants and landlords are well-informed about their rights and obligations with a new digital Property Portal.
- Tenants will now have a legal right to have pets in their homes.
Eleven million tenants across England will benefit from safer, fairer and higher quality homes thanks to a once-in-a-generation overhaul of housing laws. The Renters’ (Reform) Bill, introduced to Parliament this week delivers on the Government’s 2019 manifesto commitment to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions which will empower renters to challenge poor landlords without fear of losing their home.
The new Bill also protects over 2 million landlords, making it easier for them to recover properties when they need to – so they can sell their property if they want to, move in a close family member, or when tenants wilfully do not pay rent. Notice periods will also be reduced where tenants have been irresponsible – for example breaching their tenancy agreement or causing damage to the property.
This builds on the strong progress this government has already made over the last decade to increase protections for tenants, including giving councils stronger powers to drive criminal landlords out of the market by introducing Banning Orders through the Housing and Planning Act 2016; and shielding tenants from excessive deposits and fees through the Tenant Fees Act 2019.
The reforms will strengthen powers to evict anti-social tenants, broadening the disruptive and harmful activities that can lead to eviction and making it quicker to evict a tenant acting anti-socially.
To ensure the new tenancy systems works for landlords and tenants, it will be introduced alongside a reformed courts process. For the minority of evictions that do end up in the courts, more of the process will be digitised – reducing delays.
A new Ombudsman will provide quicker and cheaper resolutions to disputes, while a new digital Property Portal will enable landlords to understand their obligations and help tenants make better decisions when signing a new tenancy agreement. This will give confidence to good landlords, while driving the criminal minority out of business.
Commenting, Cllr. Shaun Garrett, Leader of the Conservative group at Surrey Heath Borough Council, said:
"I would like to thank Michael for everything he is doing to address the issues residents have been experiencing with their housing associations, like Accent.
"Having been Portfolio Holder for Support and Safeguarding, my inbox was always full with complaints from tenants who were receiving a poor and unacceptable level of service from their landlord.
"In my ward of the Old Dean, it's almost daily that I receive a complaint from a resident. The service they receive is just not good enough, so it's positive that following discussions with Michael, he is able to take action in his role as Leveling Up Secretary to address this issue.
"These new reforms will help to benefit residents not just in Surrey Heath, but nationally, with safer, fairer and high quality homes."
Michael Gove MP said:
"I'm committed to getting a better deal for everyone in Surrey Heath who rents a home.
"I've been working with residents in social housing to hold Accent to account and improve the standards of the accommodation they provide. Most recently, I discussed with the Ballard Court Residents Association the need for better service. And over recent months I've also worked with service families to improve the way they're treated by the MoD in service family accommodation.
"Today I've introduced new legislation to help those in the private rented sector.
"The vast majority of private landlords provide an exemplary service and we all benefit from a flexible supply of homes for rent. But we do need to deal with the small minority of cases where bad landlords have abused their position. A number of these cases in Surrey Heath have caused me concern.
"That's why the new law I'm bringing in will end no-fault evictions, which have been used by unscrupulous landlords to intimidate tenants in poor housing into accepting substandard accommodation. I will also make sure there are new powers to deal with anti-social neighbours. And I will establish a new ombudsman to help resolve issues between landlords and tenants rapidly and effectively."
Further reading on the Renters' (Reform) Bill can be found here: Government introduces landmark reforms to deliver fairer private rented sector for tenants and landlords - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Pictured, Michael Gove with the Chairman and Treasurer of the Ballard Court Residents Association
