The Renters’ Rights Act: key takeaways

Duncan McGregor, Partner

The Renters’ Rights Act has received Royal Assent on 27 October and will no doubt have a sizable impact on private rental residential market.  The Act itself is more of a framework as the government must introduce further regulations to effect and add detail to the provisions of the Act.  No timeline has yet been published by the Government; the press release from the Government website merely states that, “In the coming weeks, ministers will outline how the reforms will be rolled out.”

As we have previously discussed notable features of the Act include:

• The end to so called “no-fault” evictions as assured shorthold tenancies are effectively abolished making all short-term tenancies periodic, and the grounds for possession statutory
• Tenants on the other hand will find it much easier to bring their tenancies to an end
• Rent reviews will now need to follow a specific statutory procedure
• The Act will outlaw so-called “bidding wars” as any advertised property but specify the rent and landlords must not accept a higher figure
• There will be an implied right to keep a pet at a rented property.  Although this will be subject to Landlord’s consent, such consent cannot be unreasonably withheld
• The Act provides for both Awaab’s law and the Decent Homes Standard to apply to private sector tenancies.  These provisions are already effective in the social housing sector
• A new private rented sector database and new landlord redress scheme
• New penalties for non-compliance

Agents and landlords need to be prepared for the new regime in advance given the extent of the changes and the fact that certain provisions will require action within a short timeframe of the Act coming into force.  We will discuss the Act further as we hear more on the timetable and regulations.

If you need any advice or support navigating the changes, please don’t hesitate to contact our Residential Property team or email us at info@kuits.com