Bill one step closer to protecting renters' rights but key components missing

News

While the Renters’ Rights Bill is ambitious in its reform of the rental market, it is missing key elements that could render the bill ineffective.

The Law Society of England and Wales warns the UK government that rental reform will be difficult to enforce without further clarity around the enforcement provisions in the bill and increased funding of the justice system.

This warning comes as the Renters’ Rights Bill has its second reading in the House of Lords tomorrow (4 February).*

Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “We are pleased that the Renters’ Rights Bill proposes widely supported reform, including the immediate ban of ‘no-fault’ evictions and an end to rental bidding wars.

“This reform is long overdue, as the growing housing crisis has left renters vulnerable to unjust treatment and forced homelessness. It is vital that renters are afforded clear rights, while balancing landlords’ routes to repossessions.

“We support the bill’s ambitious efforts, however, we remain concerned that an underfunded justice system will make rental reform difficult to achieve.

“While the government’s proposals to increase housing legal aid fees are a welcome development, there remains more to be done around the scope of legal aid, which would enable more renters to obtain legal advice at an earlier stage.**

“The bill may also lead to more contested hearings, as landlords will now have to show good reason for eviction. Renters will have a greater ability to challenge evictions, which may lead to additional cases entering the court system. The government must outline how it intends to equip courts with adequate resources to handle this rising demand, while dealing with existing backlogs.

“While we applaud the government for its great strides to bolster tenant rights, the bill will not be effective without further investment in the justice system. We urge the government to provide greater funding and more clarity to the enforcement provisions so that justice is accessible to renters and landlords alike.”

Notes to editors

*Learn more about the Renters' Rights Bill

**Law Society research has found that 25.3 million people (42%) do not have a local legal aid provider for housing advice.

Additionally, the legal aid means test, which sets eligibility for civil and criminal legal aid, has not been updated in line with inflation since 2009. This means fewer people are eligible for legal aid each year and may be unable to access justice.

The result is that only people living in deep poverty – up to 80% below the minimum income standard – are eligible for full legal aid.

Learn more about our work on housing legal aid and view our housing legal aid desert map.