According to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) renters will be given the legal right to ask for a pet and landlords cannot unreasonably refuse.
Labour have indicated that they will back the government on “no fault evictions” and the opposition leader said the Renters Reform Bill which was introduced by Michael Gove the Housing Secretary will allow renters to challenge rogue landlords and will not lose their home.
The government are to set up a new ombudsman to oversee disputes and a digital “property portal” will be set up which will help property managers to understand their legal obligations.
Transport minister Richard Holden told Sky News, “I think we’ve got to strike the right balance here between ensuring that renters can have somewhere safe and secure to live and have a normal life there, and also ensure that some rogue tenants don’t disrupt entire neighbourhoods for people as well.”
Sir Keir Starmer the Labour leader told BBC Breakfast, “Actually, this is a step in the right direction.
“I do think that having promised it in 2019, they could have done it a bit more quickly but, look, it is right to give renters more security.”
Despite the banning of Section 21 no fault evictions landlords’ rights will be strengthened to kick out tenants for anti-social behaviour.
But the DLUHC has warned that despite the banning of Section 21 this Bill will allow landlords to classify the eviction as “disruptive and harmful activities.”
Renters will be allowed to claim benefits for their families and children as it will be illegal for landlords or agents to ban this.
Dan Wilson Craw, acting director of campaign group Generation Rent, said this new legislation is a “huge opportunity” which will help to improve the lives of tenants across England and take away “much of the stress of renting.”
He added, “These reforms wouldn’t be happening without the tireless campaigning of members of the Renters Reform Coalition and thousands of renters over many years.
“We look forward to reading the Bill and working with ministers and parliamentarians to make sure the legislation achieves what it sets out to do.”
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