Newsletter - September 2024 » Portway Solicitors

Newsletter – September 2024

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Introduction
Welcome to the September edition of our newsletter. In this issue, we look at the UK Renters' Rights Bill and how the government is taking steps to help the tenants.
The UK Renters’ Rights Bill is ushering in a new era for tenants and landlords.

Central Reforms Include:

Abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions, ensuring greater tenant security.
A Decent Homes Standard will improve living conditions, while an ombudsman service will streamline disputes.
Under Awaab’s Law, landlords must fix hazardous conditions swiftly.

Major Reforms With The UK
As the rental landscape continues to evolve, the UK government has introduced the Renters'

Rights Bill, aimed at improving protections for tenants and setting new standards for theprivate rental sector (PRS).

Here's what to expect from this significant legislation.

Key Provisions:

Abolition of "No-Fault Evictions"
- Section 21 evictions, which allow landlords to terminate a tenancy without cause, are set to be abolished. This reform is a major win for renters, enhancing stability in long-term rental agreements. However, concerns linger over the legal system’s ability to cope with the potential rise in disputes.
New Decent Homes Standard
- A Decent Homes Standard will be introduced to ensure that private rental homes meet safety, repair, and living condition criteria. This aligns with public housing standards and reinforces the need for quality housing in the PRS.
Protection from Rent Increases
- Tenants will gain the right to challenge unfair rent increases, offering additional financial security. Landlords will need to ensure any adjustments are reasonable and justifiable.
Right to Request Pets
- Tenants will be empowered to request pets in their rented homes, subject to certain conditions. This represents a significant step toward more tenant friendly rental agreements.
Landlord Database and PRS Ombudsman
- A digital database will consolidate information for landlords and tenants, ensuring transparency before entering tenancy agreements. A new ombudsman service will also facilitate easier and cost-effective dispute resolution.
Awaab’s Law for Safer Homes
- Inspired by the tragic death of Awaab Ishak due to housing conditions, Awaab’s Law will ensure that landlords address serious health and safety hazards within a specified timeframe, improving living conditions in the private sector.

Challenges and Landlord Concerns

While these reforms promise tenants a safer and more stable environment, landlords are understandably cautious. The abolition of no-fault evictions is viewed as a potential risk, particularly without sufficient replacement procedures in place for problematic tenants.
Additionally, many landlords are concerned about whether the court system can handle increased disputes effectively.

The Renters' Rights Bill is expected to bring long-awaited reforms, offering greater security for tenants and clarity for landlords. While not without challenges, this Bill aims to create a more balanced and fair rental market across the UK. Stay tuned as further developments unfold.

The shift to rolling periodic tenancies and stricter repossession via Section 8 raises concerns for landlords, especially regarding potential delays in gaining possession. It is speculated that the bill will impact both tenant protections and landlord responsibilities.

About Us

We have also witnessed some significant Housing, Disrepair disputes and have endeavoured to cover the updates happening around in this field.

We at Portway Solicitors strive for our clients' best interests and ensure that they receive the best of the services we have to offer. We are a devoted team that assists our clients in the sectors of Business Immigration, Employment Law, Landlord and Tenant, Personal Injury, and many others.

Our class-leading practice specialists are always on top of the latest developments in the sector. In our endeavour to keep you abreast with the latest developments in the dynamic legal sectors, we present to you the latest issue of our Newsletter. We hope you find this issue of interest. As always, your feedback makes us improve our efforts. Please feel free to send your comments, feedback, and suggestions to info@portwaysolicitors.com.

We also encourage you to visit our website at www.portwaysolicitors.com for more articles on matters of interest. We hope that you enjoy reading our newsletter as much as we have enjoyed preparing it.

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