October 9th 2024.
In December 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak tragically passed away due to exposure to mould in his family's housing association flat. This devastating event brought attention to the inadequate rights and protections for tenants living in private rental homes. In response, a new law has been proposed in Parliament that aims to revolutionize the lives of tenants.
Today, the House of Commons will hold the second reading of the Renters' Rights Bill, put forth by the Labour party. This legislation includes promises to ban Section 21 no-fault evictions, a pledge that was previously made by the government in their Renters' Bill, but ultimately abandoned before the General Election. Additionally, the Bill will also introduce "Awaab's Law" to the private sector. This law, named after the young boy who tragically lost his life, requires landlords to address any health hazards in their properties within a designated timeframe.
Awaab's Law has already been implemented in the social housing sector since July of last year, but this new Bill would extend its reach to the private sector. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has expressed her determination to see this Bill become law as soon as possible. She stated, "The families and children living in unsafe housing or facing the threat of eviction deserve action now. We will fulfill our promise to renters and transform the sector into one where families can feel secure and children can grow up in healthy homes."
The Renters' Rights Bill includes several other measures, such as giving tenants more power to challenge unreasonable rent increases and introducing a new Ombudsman service to resolve disputes in a timely manner. It also grants local councils more authority to address negligent landlords and prohibits landlords from refusing tenants' requests for a pet without valid reasons.
Housing campaigners have praised the progress made with this Bill, but also suggest that there is room for improvement. The Renters' Reform Coalition, a group of organizations including charities and tenants' unions, has released a report showing that evicted tenants in England face an average cost of £2,216 for unexpected moves. They recommend implementing a system of rent compensation to alleviate this burden.
At the second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons, Rayner emphasized the need for further action to protect tenants' rights. She also highlighted the importance of strengthening Awaab's Law by giving tenants the right to pause their rent payments if landlords fail to make necessary repairs in a timely manner. Tom Darling, the director of the Renters' Reform Coalition, echoed this sentiment, stating, "No one should have to pay excessive amounts to live in an unsafe or unhealthy home."
Shelter's chief executive, Polly Neate, also stressed the importance of this Bill being comprehensive and leaving no room for loopholes. She stated, "It is crucial that the Bill limits rent increases during tenancy to either inflation or wage growth. Renters should also be protected from eviction for at least two years, and discriminatory practices that contribute to homelessness, such as demanding excessive rent in advance, must be eradicated."
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