Evidence submission: Shelter's submission to the Renters' Rights Bill committee

Shelter strongly welcomes the Renters’ Rights Bill. For too long, private renters have been living
in a sector characterised by insecurity, discrimination, poor conditions and
unaffordable rents. This bill is a critical opportunity to change that, by bringing fairness
to renting and laying the foundations for private renters to live with security and
stability in their homes.

But the government must take this opportunity to deliver a robust Bill and create the safe, secure and fairer system it has promised. With the right changes the Bill can:

1. Give renters stability to put down roots: by protecting renters from eviction for a minimum of two years, empowering the courts to better protect renters from unfair or dishonest evictions, and crucially capping rent increases so that renters can no longer be forced out by eye watering rent hikes  

2. Root out discrimination: by ending hidden barriers that lock already struggling renters out time and time again - such as the discriminatory Right to Rent policy, demands for high earning guarantors or huge amounts of rent upfront.