The latest on the Renters Rights Bill (RRB)

The Renters Rights Bill (RRB) is currently making its way through Parliament, with a second reading in the House of Lords scheduled for February 4th. Here's a brief overview of everything we know about it, so far:

What are a few of the proposed changes to legislation?

Periodic Tenancies: All fixed-term tenancies will become periodic ASTs, including current tenancies. These will automatically become periodic as of the date of the bill's passing.
Section 21: Removing Section 21 notices means you'll need to rely on Section 8 for possession, making it crucial to understand the revised grounds and procedures.
Section 8: Section 8 notices will be rewritten, with new clauses and grounds added.
Rental Bidding: Rental bidding will be banned.
Pets: Landlords and agents can no longer unreasonably refuse tenants who have pets. However, landlords can request tenants take out pet insurance.

What happened in the latest reading?

The Commons made a number of changes to the Bill in its final reading this month, before being passed to the House of Lords, including;

Rent upfront: Landlords can no longer accept more than one month's rent upfront.
Guarantors: Guarantors will no longer be liable for rent passed on due to the main tenants passing.
Private rented sector database: Landlord and agent contact details will be added to the PRS database.
Private Ombudsman: Private landlords will contribute towards a Private Ombudsman with the fees going directly to the Ombudsman to fund its growth.

What's next for the RRB?

Once the Commons and the Lords both agree on a final edition, the bill will be sent for Royal Assent and passed to become law. We’re expecting this to be around the Spring/Summer of 2025 if the Bill continues to move at the pace it has so far.

Posted By

Jake Astill