Rental sector group iHowz has prepared a briefing paper urging the government to conduct what it calls ”a comprehensive root and branch review of the current rental system, and proposes a ‘Tenant Landlord Partnership Bill’.  

iHowz has these proposals which it has put to MPs in a briefing document:

1 – National Standard for All Rental Properties, private/social and council;

2 – Register for All Rental Properties;

3 – Encourage training for Landlords and Tenants;

4 – Streamlined Eviction Processes;

5 – Enhanced Tenant Protections if No Reason-Given Eviction is used;

6 – Digitization of the Court System;

7 – Allow business Status for Landlords;

8 – Fair Taxation for Landlords;

9 – Tax Relief for Housing Homeless People;

10 – Reinstating the link between Local Housing Allowance and CPIH and reviewing the Universal Credit system;

11 – Build Genuinely Affordable Housing;

12 – Access to Rogue Landlord Registers;

13 – Set up Tenant Exchange Register: like the Council House exchange register;

14 – All agreements to be in writing;

15 – Awaab’s Law: It should also make clear that tenants must take responsibility to use the supplied facilities correctly;

16 –The publication of updates on: HHSRS (Housing, Health, and Safety Rating System) EPC methodology (Energy Performance Certificate) MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard);

17 –Licensing won’t be required if Decent Home Standard and Registration are introduced;

18 – No fault evictions: A new ground be introduced to Section 8 to allow a no fault given eviction. If used, the tenant would be eligible for the last two months rent free as compensation;

19 – Use Section 13 notice for rent increases;

20 – First Tier Tribunal: More phased resources be put into the FTT before it becomes bogged down, as the court system is now;

21- Retain Fixed Term Tenancies: To enable tenants and landlords alike to have clarity and security of tenure. 

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