Hi everyone, I wanted to share a huge win for you as a student and a future graduate of the University and how it will improve your experience.
Hi everyone, I wanted to share a huge win for you as a student and a future graduate of the University and how it will improve your experience.
To give a bit of a background, it’s widely known that some landlords have exploited an environment within the private renting market, seeing a demand spike for properties and seeing it as an opportunity to increase their profit margin by evicting current tenants with a Section 21 and bringing in new ones with an increased monthly rent.
Seeing this across the UK, a huge campaign has been underway from the NUS and Unions across the country to improve the rights of renters.
And after a long period of lobbying and the bill going through revisions, it’s great to see it being passed.
Below are just a few of the ways it will improve your experience in the renting market:
- Ban on ‘no-fault’ section 21 evictions
- Periodic tenancies (no end date)
- Tenants must provide a two month notice that they are wishing to end their tenancy
- Limit rent increases to a maximum of once per year
- Allow tenants to challenge above-market rent increases through the First-tier property (Property Chamber)
- Prohibit landlords and agencies from inviting, encouraging or accepting offers above their published rent for properties
- Cannot unreasonably refuse tenants’ rights to pets
- Makes it illegal to discriminate against tenants in receipt of benefits or children letting their property
- Implement a decent homes standard, providing local authorities the power to enforce it
- Empower landlords to challenge unsafe conditions within properties, setting timescales in which landlords must make homes safe.
There’s a lot more within this bill, including details on the enforcement powers local authorities will have, introducing a new requirement for authorities to report on enforcement activity, and the development of a new private rented sector database.
If you would like to read further information on what the bill includes, follow this link Renters' Rights Bill 2024-25 - House of Commons Library
At the Union of Students, we represent you, and with the relationship I’m building with our relatively newly elected local politicians, it’s a great step towards improving your experience.
Should there be anything that you are particularly passionate about and want to share with me, send me an email via vpwelfare@derbyunion.co.uk