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Renting campaigners call for Labour to go further with reforms

renting reforms

The Renters’ Reform Coalition has called for more radical renter reforms including longer eviction notice periods, longer protected periods free from eviction when a tenancy starts and limits on rent increases during a tenancy.

It wants the government to introduce tougher tenant protections when the Renters’ Rights Bill returns to Parliament, possibly as early as next week.

Director Tom Darling (pictured) told Sky News that the renting crisis in England was "out of control and that homelessness linked to no fault evictions had continued to rise since the election".

He says the group is pleased that Labour has already agreed to certain reforms, including extending Awaab’s law to make landlords liable for property defects, but argues that wider reforms are essential to ensure renters have genuine security in their homes.

Renters’ Reform Coalition also hopes the government does not follow through on Tory amendments to the previous Renters Reform Bill which effectively delayed the ban on Section 21 notices indefinitely, pending a review of the courts system, which some Tory backbenchers feared would become overwhelmed with more complex eviction cases.

Manifesto

In its manifesto, Labour vowed to end bidding wars to stop renters being pitted against each other “in a fight to see who can offer up a bigger sum” for a rented property - something the RRC would also support.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says: “The Renters’ Rights Bill will be introduced in due course and we have committed to engaging with the sector throughout the process.

“We will take action by abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions immediately, end rental bidding wars to stop the predatory practice of pitting renters against each other and empower renters to challenge poor conditions.”

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