The Renters Rights Bill is now the Renters Rights Act – it has been given Royal Assent and is now an Act.
And now it’s up to the government to prove that it works for renters and landlords alike, say the National Residential Landlords Association.
Chief executive Ben Beadle says: “After years of debate and uncertainty, today marks an important milestone for the private rented sector. With the Renters’ Rights Act on the statute book, the sector needs certainty about the way forward.
This is the most significant shake-up of the rental market in almost 40 years, and it is imperative that the new systems work for both tenants and responsible landlords.
The Government now needs to engage meaningfully with those providing the homes so desperately needed, to ensure implementation of the Bill is realistic and aligns with the practicalities of the market – not least the need for clarity well in advance of the next academic year for student housing.
At a minimum, the sector needs six months’ notice before implementation to ensure a smooth and seamless transition, and the Government must provide certainty on this as soon as possible.
The Government must also recognise the vital importance of a thriving private rented sector not only to meet tenant demand but to the national economy. It is essential that the Government’s reforms do not worsen the supply crisis by discouraging long term investment in the homes to rent that so many rely on.