Agents List Radical Changes needed to Renters Reform Bill

Propertymark's latest research report suggests some letting agents want radical changes to the Renters Reform Bill now going through Parliament. 

The aim of the Renters (Reform) Bill is to deliver on the UK Government’s commitment to abolish Section 21 evictions and reforming landlord possession grounds, as well as legislate for reforms set out in the ‘A fairer private rented sector’ White Paper published in June 2022. 

The Bill is currently at the Report Stage in the House of Commons before it goes for a Third Reading and then to the House of Lords.    

The Propertymark report indicates: 

- 73 per cent of agents think that the Bill is fundamentally unfair;

- Over 60 per cent believe the removal of fixed term tenancies will impact tenants negatively;

- 70 per cent agree that student lets should be exempt from the removal of fixed-term tenancies;

- Only around half (54 per cent) believe the government’s new PRS Database will improve PRS standards;

- And 90 per cent agree the following possession grounds should be made mandatory: breach of contract; repeated late payment of rent; securing a let on the basis of false information.    

Key recommendations based on Propertymark members' feedback include expanding the government’s proposed PRS Database and Property Portal to include qualification, registration and regulation requirements for property agents; a tenant should be able to agree to a fixed term tenancy where it is mutually beneficial for both parties; and private landlords should be able to join one of the existing redress schemes for the private rented sector (Property Redress Scheme or The Property Ombudsman). 

Other recommendations say the Bill should introduce a statutory code of practice for the sector to adjudicate against and set out a long-term plan for the introduction of a specialist housing court; if the portal is introduced, the requirement for local licensing schemes should be removed; and inventories and check-in/check-out reports at the beginning and end of tenancy should be added to the Bill to ensure deposits are returned speedily.   

The report’s findings are based on over 650 responses from a survey of a representative sample of Propertymark’s letting agent members in England.     

Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, says: “The clear view from Propertymark letting agent members highlights the importance of the need for policy makers to retain the option of fixed term tenancy where it is mutually beneficial to both parties, ensure new requirements for landlord redress complement the existing provisions that agents must adhere to, and the legislation is not a missed opportunity to regulate property agents and ensure landlords have confidence through new and strengthened grounds for possession.”