Renters Rights Bill Could Mean No Renting Out for 12 months

The Renters Rights Bill (Labour Government) that has superceded the Conservative Government’s Renters Reform Bill, has one subtle extension that could leave landlord’s cannot rent out their property for 12 months in certain circumstances.

The Renters Rights Bill

• Abolish S21 Evictions – your landlord will no longer be allowed to simply give you notice to leave the property, your tenancy can only be terminated due to unreasonable behaviour, rent arrears, sale or the landlord themselves or family moving in (the Government will expand landlord’s rights or reasons to repossess)..
• Section 13 Orders – Only allowing rental increasess once a year and be reasonable.
• Ban Rent Bidding Wars – Landlord’s will only be able to accept a rent as advertised and will not be allowed to accept rent ‘gazumping’ i.e., when another propsective tenant offers more.

12 Month Rental Ban

In a change to the Renters Reform Bill, the Renters Rights Bill with not allow landlords that took possession of the property as they wanted to sell the property only for the sale then to fail and the landlord then wanting to let it out again.  This is proposed to be banned for 12 months meaning landlords could have vacant property with no rent payable for 12 months if they take possession and a sale fails.

Comment

We see the 12 month as contradicttory to trying the solve the housing crisis.  If there are hundreds of empty properties around the country dud to failed sales, then this means more people without a home when a perfectly acceptable property is available.