Report: Time for change – Making renting fairer for private renters

The coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on how perilous private renting can be. Private renters are struggling in sub-standard homes. Many experience serious problems with landlord and agent practice. Many renters face discrimination. They lack an effective means to seek redress. Many renters also live under constant threat of losing their home, and with nowhere else to go they face the real risk of homelessness. The sector lacks the regulatory, resourcing and legislative framework needed to help address these issues.

Wide-scale reform of the sector is needed.

Last year, the government announced that it would develop a Renters’ Reform Bill to introduce a package of reforms to the private rented sector. Ahead of the publication of the Bill, Shelter and Nationwide Building Society have come together to set out a shared long-term vision for improving private renting.

We propose a package of regulatory, resourcing and legislative reforms that will help to improve housing standards, enhance landlord, housing management agent and letting agent practice, tackle discrimination and bolster private renters’ power to enforce their rights. Achieving all this will help get more private renters the safe, stable homes they need.