No-fault evictions and pet bans to be scrapped in rental shake-up

No-fault evictions and pet bans could be scrapped in a shake-up to make the private rented sector in England more fair, as a government White Paper is published on Thursday (16 June). Tenants will have stronger powers to challenge poor practice and unjustified rent increases under the proposals, and they could also be saved the expense of having to move as often from one rented home to another.

It will be made illegal for landlords or agents to place blanket bans on renting to families with children or those in receipt of benefits. The Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper marks a generational shift, according to the government, which will redress the balance between landlords and the 4.4 million privately renting households across England.

The decent homes living standard will be extended to the private sector, meaning homes must be free from serious health and safety hazards, and landlords must keep homes in a good state of repair so renters have clean, appropriate and useable facilities. “No fault” Section 21 evictions that allow landlords to terminate tenancies without giving any reason will be outlawed.

Read more: Stunned holidaymaker hit with £870 bill after returning to Manchester Airport from honeymoon

More than a fifth of private renters who moved in 2019 and 2020 did not end their tenancy by choice, the government said. A new Private Renters’ Ombudsman will be created to enable disputes between private renters and landlords to be settled quickly, and at a relatively low cost, without having to go to court.

Measures will also help responsible landlords to gain possession of their properties efficiently from anti-social tenants, the government said. A new property portal will help landlords to understand, and