What Labour’s new bill could mean for renters

Living in a rental property can be hard at times, so the new Labour government is looking to make things fairer for tenants while protecting the rights of good landlords.

Part of Labour’s plans involve launching the Renters Rights Bill – its version of the Renters (Reform Bill) that was announced by the Conservatives in 2023.

The bill includes several new policies that will apply to people renting homes in England.

To help you understand how the changes could impact you, here’s a quick and easy guide on what it contains and when they will come into effect.

Abolishing Section 21

One of the biggest changes in the bill is to remove Section 21, a legal notice that landlords in England can use to evict tenants.

With just a small number of tenants evicted this way, it shouldn’t have too much of an impact on landlords. They will also be given new methods to reclaim their properties if needed.

Better rights for tenants

Tenants will get the power to challenge rent increases if they believe they are being used to force them out. The bill also plans to end rental bidding wars created by landlords and letting agents.

People with pets are expected to get improved rights too. Landlords must consider them and won’t be able to refuse a tenant just for having a pet, but can ask for insurance to cover any damage they may cause.

Decent Homes Standard

To reduce the amount of poor quality rental homes in England, the government will include a new policy called the Decent Homes Standard. Under the new law, all privately rented properties must meet safety and security standards.

Awaab’s Law

Another policy on the bill is Awaab’s Law, which was originally introduced in the Social Housing Regulation Act in 2023.

Launched to increase living standards in rental properties, it means landlords must look into and fix health hazards reported by tenants within a certain time.

Digital database

A new digital database will contain information that can be accessed by tenants, landlords and councils. For renters, it has essential details to help them make better decisions when starting a new tenancy.

Property ombudsman

To resolve disputes between tenants and landlords more easily, a new ombudsman will offer a fair resolution and prevent issues being taken to court.

Anti-discrimination laws

For tenants receiving benefits or those who have children, measures will be brought in to make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against them.

More power for local councils

Finally, the bill is set to increase the enforcement powers given to local councils, meaning they can find and punish bad landlords to create a better rental sector.

What will happen next?

As the Renters Rights Bill is currently in its draft phase, there is no set timeline on when it will become law. We should hear more about the bill in October 2024.

Before then, Co-op Insurance can help protect you and your belongings. To find out more or to get a quote, visit our renters insurance page.

This article was factually correct as of Tuesday 10 September 2024.