The Renters’ Rights Bill returns to Parliament for its final debate today (14th January 2025), as it aims to provide stronger protections for the over 11 million private renters in the UK.
The new rules introduced by the Bill will cap advance rent payments at one month’s rent and protect bereaved families from unfair financial burdens after a loved one has died.
It will also abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, end rental bidding wars, and tackle unreasonable rent increases.
The Bill will prevent landlords from demanding multiple months’ rent in advance, a practice that has excluded many low-income renters from the housing market.
Landlords will still be able to request one month’s rent in advance and a security deposit of up to five or six weeks’ rent.
Additionally, protections will be introduced for students, stopping them from being pressured to sign leases too early in the academic year.
The Bill will also overhaul potential loopholes in rent repayment orders (RROs), making landlords responsible even if rent was paid through an agent.
The Government has pledged to invest £5bn in housing this year, including an extra £500m for building affordable homes.
The aim is to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, addressing the insufficient planning system.
The proposed changes also include extending the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector, allowing tenants to challenge landlords over poor housing conditions.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, said: “Through our Plan for Change we are tackling the housing crisis head on, delivering the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation, raising living standards across every part of the country, and putting more money into people’s pockets.
“For far too long working people and families have been at the mercy of a fickle and unfair rental market, faced with outrageous upfront costs, and struggling to find a safe and secure place they can truly call home.
Rayner added: “We are delivering on our promise to transform the lives of millions of renters so families can put down roots, allow their children to grow up in secure and healthy homes, and make sure our young people can save for their future.”
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, said: “The Bill will modernise the regulation of our country’s insecure and unjust private rented sector, levelling decisively the playing field between landlord and tenant.
“It will empower renters by providing them with greater security, rights and protections so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities and avoid the risk of homelessness.
Pennycook added: “It will ensure we can drive up the quality of private rented housing so that renters have access to good quality and safe homes as a matter of course.
“And it will allow us to crack down on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat, or discriminate against renters.”
