Thank you for contacting me about support for private renters.
I am assured that the Government is dedicated to reforming the rental sector for tenants and landlords alike, and has proposed a number of measures to deliver a better deal for renters. I look forward to reading further details about this in an upcoming White Paper.
Central to these reforms will be the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, which the Government consulted upon in 2019. I am pleased that this will improve security for tenants, as well as strengthening repossession ground for landlords when they have valid cause. Proposals will also be set out for a new ‘lifetime’ tenancy deposit model that eases the burden on tenants when moving from one tenancy to the next, helping to improve the experience of those living in the private rental sector.
Standards in rented accommodation will be driven up, including by ensuring all tenants have a right to redress and warranting well-targeted, effective enforcement that drives out criminal landlords. As part of this, I am told that the Government will explore the merits of a landlord register. Improvements and possible efficiencies to the possession process in the courts will also be investigated to make it quicker and easier for landlords and tenants to use.
I am pleased that the Government committed to extensive stakeholder engagement and is working with the sector to inform and shape reforms. This will ensure they deliver a private rented sector that works for both tenants and landlords, while also learning from the pandemic and its impact on the sector. I have been assured that legislation will follow in due course.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
November 2021