Tenants still need more protection despite government reforms, campaign group warns
The London Renters Union says tenants will be vulnerable to eviction even though the government has promised to tighten the rules in its renters reform paper.
Government reforms will help prevent letting agents and landlords from discriminating against benefit claimants, but more action is still needed to protect tenants, a campaign group warned.
Blanket bans on benefit claimants will be prohibited under the Renters Reform White Paper issued by the Government earlier this month.
The end of no-fault ‘section 21’ evictions was also a big step forward according to London Renters Union, but tenants needed more protection, it said.
The LRU said landlords could still evict tenants when they plan to move in in or sell the property. Tenants will be vulnerable to rents rises, and ‘racist’ immigration checks have not been removed, it said.
“We will continue to fight on these issues and for bigger transformational changes such as rent controls that bring the rents down so no one is forced out of their community. Every single person deserves a right to shelter. No ifs or buts,” a spokesperson said.
“We are at only the beginning of our fightback against a housing system that is geared towards landlords being able to make a profit while the rest of us lose out. We won’t stop fighting to transform the housing system until we have homes for everyone.”
Renters reform
The 12-point renters reform plan was more radical than many people expected, with proposals including landlords only able to evict tenants under circumstances including both ‘fault’ (i.e. rent arrears or anti-social behaviour/damage) or no-fault (i.e. to move back into a property or sell it).
Landlords were told they would have six months’ notice of its first implementation date, after which all new tenancies would be periodic and governed by the new rules, signalling an end to ASTs (Assured Shorthold Tenancies).
There were also measures in the paper, which is expected to become law next year, to allow tenants to keep pets.
More on the Renters Reform White Paper