“The bill represents a welcome new chapter for tenants. But, with landlords allowed to hike up rents on a whim as a way of pricing current tenants out of their homes, renters will continue to live in fear even after section 21 is scrapped.”
She continued: “If the government wants the Renter’s Rights Bill to be truly transformative, it must go further. Rent increases during tenancies must be capped in line with inflation or wage growth to make renting safer, secure, and more affordable.”
Research by Shelter has found that 60,000 renters have been forced out of their homes by a rent hike they couldn’t afford in the past year.
Will the Renters’ Rights Bill ban no-fault evictions?
Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill has promised to put an end to section 21 evictions, as well as giving additional rights to renters more widely – including powers to challenge rent increases, the right to keep a pet and ending bidding wars for rental properties.
The new legislation, which has not yet been set a date to pass, would also make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants on benefits or with children.
Campaigners have explained, however, that while section 21 evictions would be banned through the bill, it would not put a stop to all evictions, for example when a landlord wants to sell the property.
“The continued increase in evictions we’re seeing is really worrying – everyone should be able to feel secure in their home,” Lucy Tiller, policy and public affairs manager at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said.
“The previous government promised to abolish section 21 evictions in 2019, and it is shocking that as Christmas approaches five years later, thousands of renters are still being forced out of their homes by no-fault evictions.”
She added: “It is welcome that the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill will finally end section 21 evictions, but that won’t put a stop to no-fault evictions where a landlord wants to sell or move into the property. Being forced to leave your home through no fault of your own is a disruptive and expensive experience that pushes many renters into hardship and even homelessness.”
The pressure group, which includes Shelter, Generation Rent and other pro-renter campaigners, is calling for the bill to be “upgraded” to further protect renters, urging the government to add a clause so that “where landlords evict to sell, renters should be provided two months’ rent as compensation“.
“This would help renters to save for a deposit, manage the costs of an unwanted move, and reduce the risk of homelessness,” she added.
Matt Downie, chief executive at Crisis, said Labour’s bill must also limit the amount of rent that can be requested in advance.
He also urged the government to invest in housing benefit to make payments reflect the cost of renting.
“We do need to see stronger measures in the Renters’ Rights Bill, like limiting rent increases for occupying tenants and a limit on the amount of rent that can be requested in advance,” said Downie. “This would provide better protection for low-income households at risk of homelessness, and families trying to move on from temporary accommodation.
“No-fault evictions are one of the leading causes of homelessness. We need urgent action and stricter measures to protect people at risk of homelessness now and in the future.”
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