About the Renters Rights Act
The Act is likely to come into force in April and will introduce the following changes:
- abolish section 21 evictions and move to a simpler tenancy structure where all assured tenancies are periodic – providing more security for tenants and empowering them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of eviction. The new system will be implemented in one stage, giving all tenants security immediately.
- ensure possession grounds are fair to both parties, giving tenants more security, while ensuring landlords can recover their property when reasonable. The bill introduces new safeguards for tenants, giving them more time to find a home if landlords evict to move in or sell, and ensuring unscrupulous landlords cannot misuse grounds.
- provide stronger protections against backdoor eviction by ensuring tenants are able to appeal excessive above-market rents which are designed to force them out. Landlords will still be able to increase rents to market price for their properties and an independent tribunal will make a judgement on this, if needed.
- introduce a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman that will provide quick, fair, impartial and binding resolution for tenants’ complaints about their landlord. This will bring tenant-landlord complaint resolution on par with established redress practices for tenants in social housing and consumers of property agent services
- create a Private Rented Sector Database to help landlords understand their legal obligations and demonstrate compliance (giving good landlords confidence in their position), alongside providing better information to tenants to make informed decisions when entering into a tenancy agreement. It will also support local councils – helping them target enforcement activity where it is needed most. Landlords will need to be registered on the database in order to use certain possession grounds.
- give tenants strengthened rights to request a pet in the property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. To support this, landlords will be able to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property
- apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector to give renters safer, better value homes and remove the blight of poor-quality homes in local communities.
- apply ‘Awaab’s Law’ to the sector, setting clear legal expectations about the timeframes within which landlords in the private rented sector must take action to make homes safe where they contain serious hazards.
- make it illegal for landlords and agents to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits or with children – helping to ensure everyone is treated fairly when looking for a place to live.
- end the practice of rental bidding by prohibiting landlords and agents from asking for or accepting offers above the advertised rent. Landlords and agents will be required to publish an asking rent for their property and it will be illegal to accept offers made above this rate.
- strengthen local authority enforcement by expanding civil penalties, introducing a package of investigatory powers and bringing in a new requirement for local authorities to report on enforcement activity.
- strengthen rent repayment orders by extending them to superior landlords, doubling the maximum penalty and ensuring repeat offenders have to repay the maximum amount.
Please see the Government’s general guide.
Haringey Council is preparing to support with the implementation of these changes locally and will continue to provide updates, signposting and resources for local landlords, for voluntary sector partners and residents as more detail becomes available.
We will also be playing a lead role in enforcing the changes from next year through our licensing and environmental health teams.
Information for landlords
Read the latest government advice on how to prepare.
You can also download the PDF flyer and checklist.
As well as posting resources on this page, we will also provide updates via our landlord e-bulletin. Subscribe now by emailing PropertyLicensing@haringey.gov.uk.
General advice and resources for private landlords is available at Landlord responsibilities and for council leaseholders who sublet their properties at Leaseholders and and via our tenant and leaseholder e-bulletin Homes Zone.
Information for residents
We will continue to post updates on the progress of the legislation on our social media channels, via our resident e-bulletin Haringey People Extra.
Additional advice on your rights as a private tenant and what to do if you are facing eviction from a private rented home are also available.