Briefing: Second Reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill

For too long, private renters have been living in a sector characterised by insecurity, discrimination, and poor conditions. The Renters (Reform) Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change this, by resetting the balance of power between tenants and landlords.

Four years on from the government’s promise to end section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, England’s 11 million private renters can’t afford to wait any longer. Since the Bill’s first reading in May, tens of thousands more families have been served a section 21 eviction notice. The Renters (Reform) Bill could be a gamechanger for renters: finally giving them the security they need to put down roots in their homes and their neighbourhoods.

Shelter strongly welcomes second reading of this long-awaited bill, and is campaigning to ensure that it is passed swiftly and is robust enough to provide private renters with genuine security and safety in their homes, as well as proper protection against discrimination.

In order to meet the government’s ambition of creating a fairer private rented sector, the Renters (Reform) Bill must:

1. Close loopholes for unfair evictions when section 21 is abolished.

2. Ensure that all private renters have genuine security in their homes by extending notice periods from two to four months, protection periods from six months to two years, and ‘no reletting’ periods from three to twelve months.

3. Prevent homelessness by preserving private renters’ right to access homelessness assistance from their council as soon as a possession notice is served.

4. Urgently bring forward legislation to outlaw discrimination against renters with children and those in receipt of benefits.