The government has once again used a Queen’s Speech to commit to reforming the private rented sector via the introduction of the Renters Reform Bill.

A White Paper on the PRS was promised in last year’s Queen’s Speech but nothing materialised, possibly due to the changing of Housing Secretary.

Government says this Renters Reform Bill will “strengthen landlords’ rights of possession, providing a fair and effective market for both tenants and landlords.”

The main elements of the Bill are:

• Abolishing so-called ‘no fault’ evictions by removing Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, providing security for tenants in the private rented sector and empowering them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of retaliatory eviction.
• Reforming possession grounds for landlords, introducing new and stronger grounds for repeated incidences of rent arrears and reducing notice periods for anti-social behaviour, ensuring that they can regain their property efficiently when needed.
• Applying the legally binding Decent Homes Standard in the Private Rented Sector for the first time ever, giving tenants safer, better quality and better value homes.
• Introduce a new Ombudsman for private landlords so that disputes can easily be resolved without the need to go to court, which is often costly and lengthy, and ensure that when residents make a complaint, landlords take action to put things right.
• Introducing a new property portal to help landlords understand their obligations, give tenants performance information to hold their landlord to account as well as aiding local authorities.

Alicia Kennedy, Director of Generation Rent, said: “We can’t level up without dramatic improvements to the quality of rented homes. Reforming tenancies and raising standards in the private rented sector are essential first steps towards this so the government’s recommitment to a Renters Reform Bill is hugely important.

“Renters have been waiting three years for the government to abolish these insidious Section 21 evictions. Finally, legislation looks to be on its way.

“But we can’t rest until the changes are passed into law. Now it’s the details that matter.

“It is essential that any new tenancy regime reduces the number of unwanted moves and gives renters the confidence to challenge poor practice by landlords.

“The plans also appear to address the desperate lack of regulation of private landlords, with a new ombudsman, a property portal and a requirement to meet the Decent Homes Standard. We need more detail on each, but they are essential measures if private renters are to exercise their rights effectively.”

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “We welcome the Government’s acceptance that reforms to the rented sector need to strengthen the ability of landlords to tackle anti-social tenants and those with repeated rent arrears.

“We will continue to work to ensure that these and other grounds for possession are fair and workable.

“Whilst we support proposals for an Ombudsman to cut the number of possession cases needing to go the court, this cannot be a substitute for proper court reform as well.

“At present it can take almost a year for a private landlord to repossess a property through the courts where they have a legitimate reason to do so. This is simply not good enough.”

However, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London, said the speech “does not go anywhere near far enough to address the cost of living crisis facing millions of Londoners and families across the country.”

On housing, he added: “The Mayor welcomes the Government’s decision to finally introduce long-promised legislation to ban section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. This commitment is testament to the dogged work of tenants and campaigners who have been waiting three long years for Ministers to honour their previous promises.

“However, the Government should have used the Queen’s Speech to address the eye-watering costs of renting by giving the Mayor powers to introduce a two year rent freeze in London, as a first step towards delivering rent controls that would make renting more affordable.

“In the face of a mounting cost of living crisis, giving the Mayor powers to curb spiralling rents would have a big impact and help build a better and fairer London for everyone.”

Cllr Darren Rodwell, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “We are pleased that the Government has committed to introducing legislation through the Renters Reform Bill to strengthen protections for private renters and abolish ‘no-fault evictions’. This is something the LGA and councils have been calling for the Government to introduce since it was included in its 2019 manifesto.

“A dramatic recent rise in the number of ‘no fault evictions’ from the private rented sector is putting additional pressure on homelessness services, so we are glad that a plan to strengthen safeguards for private renters is finally in place, allowing renters to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of eviction.”

The Queen’s Speech, this year given by Prince Charles for the first time, also included the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill and planning reforms as part of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.