White paper to tackle rogue landlords and unfair evictions

Tenants in private rented accommodation will be given more protection from unscrupulous landlords under plans put forward today. The long-awaited consultation, which will be launched by levelling up secretary Michael Gove, will include measures to ban section 21 notices, which landlords can currently use to evict tenants without providing a reason. Almost one in 10 of the private renters who moved in 2019 and 2020 did so after being asked to leave by their landlord, and ministers have pledged for years to outlaw so-called no-fault evictions. As well as scrapping no-fault evictions, the white paper proposes banning landlords from imposing arbitrary rent reviews or blocking families with children or benefits recipients from renting their properties. The notice period for rent increases will be doubled. Other measures include a registration scheme for landlords and the creation of an ombudsman to settle disputes. Landlords could also be forced to refund rent if they do not keep homes in an acceptable condition. Ministers are also drafting plans which will give tenants the right to request pets in any property, which landlords “cannot unreasonably refuse”. The measures announced in the white paper are eventually set to become law in a Renters’ Reform Bill promised in the Queen’s Speech in May. The FT (£) The Guardian Daily Mail