Labour have revealed that no-fault evictions will finally be banned under plans to “protect” renters from bad landlords across the borough.
The last Tory government repeatedly promised to end so-called “Section 21” evictions, but failed to do so because of opposition from their own MPs.
26,000 households had their tenancies scrapped last year alone
The new Renters’ Rights Bill is to be introduced by the Government to parliament today (11)
Thanks to Labour’s huge Commons majority, the Bill is certain to become law.
As well as banning no-fault evictions the legislation will ban landlords from increasing rents more than once a year and introduce a new “decent homes standards” for private sector properties.
Rental bidding wars will also be banned, as will blanket bans on tenants with children or those who claim benefits.
Awaab’s Law – which would force landlords to urgently address mould and damp problems in their properties – will also come into force at last.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said: “Renters have been let down for too long and too many are stuck in disgraceful conditions, powerless to act because of the threat of a retaliatory eviction hanging over them.
“Most landlords act in a responsible way but a small number of unscrupulous ones are tarnishing the reputation of the whole sector by making the most of the housing crisis and forcing tenants into bidding wars.
“There can be no more dither and delay. We must overhaul renting and rebalance the relationship between tenant and landlord. This bill will do just that and tenants can be reassured this government will protect them.”
A Conservative spokesperson said they members hoped the new proposals were ‘coherent and thought through’.
He said: “Conservatives believe in ensuring choice and freedom, whatever home they live in.
“But new regulation must be necessary and proportionate. Otherwise, as it has in Scotland, badly drafted laws will cut supply, forcing up rents and reducing choice for renters.
“We await to see the details of Labour’s proposals and hope they are more coherent and thought-through than their interventions in other policy areas so far.”
