The Law Society has welcomed reforms of the private rental market as new legislation gained Royal Assent yesterday, while calling for more investment in the courts.
The Renters Rights Act abolishes Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, restricts rent rises to once a year and creates a private rented sector landlord ombudsman to resolve tenants’ complaints.
The government said that ministers will outline how the reforms will be rolled out 'in the coming weeks'.
Law Society president Mark Evans said the reform 'helps level the playing field' between tenants and landlords. 'We’re pleased that the Law Society’s calls to stop landlords asking for more than one month’s rent upfront have been accepted. This helps make renting fairer and more accessible for prospective tenants, making a real difference to their lives.
'The decision to end "no-fault" evictions addresses a long-standing imbalance that gave landlords an unfair advantage. The act also introduces new and revised grounds for possession. To ensure fairness for both parties, the government must clarify what kind of evidence landlords will need to provide to invoke those grounds,' he said.
However Evans said for the reform to be successful, the government must invest in the courts to ensure they can handle an expected rise in contested hearings. 'Court reform and modernisation is crucial if the Renters’ Rights Act is to help both tenants and landlords,' Evans said.
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