Commission call for housing law reform with two tenancies

There should only be two types of tenancy available for residential tenancies, the Law Commission said this week.

Launching proposals for a 'consumer approach' towards housing law, the commission said two types of tenure - short term and long term - should replace the estimated 13 that currently exist.

Those with short tenancies would have few legal remedies once their contracts run out, while those with longer agreements would be entitled to a full court hearing if their landlord wanted early possession.

The commission proposes that private landlords should be able to choose which form of tenure they offer, but it moots the idea that, as an alternative to a choice, social landlords should be obliged to offer a long-term tenancy to bring housing association tenants into line with council tenants.

The paper also proposes modernising eviction procedures.