A Midlands agency claims the Renters’ Rights Bill as a positive improvement for both tenants and landlords.

The Bill, set to become law this summer, has been criticised by many as anti-landlord and damaging to the private rental sector. 

But Dominic Murphy, managing director of DM & Co. Homes, explained that the new law will actually provide more certainty and fixed beneficial outcomes for professional landlords.

“There’s been a lot of scaremongering about the Renters’ Rights Bill with sensationalist commentators telling the world that it will result in landlords selling up in droves. I just don’t agree with that argument, as many professional property investors and landlords I’ve spoken to see this new legislation as overwhelmingly positive” he says.

“For a start the reform will provide clearer regulations, with more structured guidelines, and this will reduce legal uncertainties for landlords as well as tenants. And while Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions will be abolished, the legislation actually provides a faster eviction process for tenants who fail to pay their rent.

“The legislation also expands grounds for possession under Section 8, allowing landlords to regain possession in specific circumstances, such as rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, or when they need to move in themselves or have family move in. This provides clearer criteria for regaining possession, potentially leading to more predictable and efficient processes for landlords.

“There will also be stronger lease agreements, with more standardised terms that will make it easier for landlords to enforce their rights. Other positives include extra incentives for landlords who improve their rental properties, such as tax benefits or grants, and stricter tenant screening rules will help landlords to ensure they are renting to more responsible tenants.

“The legal changes really are beneficial to landlords, including policies that should reduce rent arrears by requiring tenants to pay on time and offering better dispute resolution that should protect landlords from financial loss.

“Some of the reforms will also see stricter rules on property damage, holding tenants more accountable, and improved mediation services that should reduce lengthy legal battles by making dispute resolution faster and cheaper.

“Even new policies that some critics see as negative have a bright side, such as encouraging long-term tenancies by rewarding landlords who offer such leases, which also reduce turnover costs for landlords.

“Overall, the Renters’ Rights Bill a raft of fairer market conditions, with clearer rules for both landlords and tenants to make the rental market more stable and predictable, providing certainty and more fixed outcomes for landlords.”

Murphy also claims that what he calls “professional landlords” are not opposing the Bill – whereas “cowboy landlords” who over-charge for over-crowded and low standard properties oppose the measures.

“They might also present obstacles to what are known as ‘accidental landlords’, which can be people who have not planned to rent as a profession but who suddenly find themselves in situations where they need to rent. These ‘accidental landlords’ will find themselves equally liable to the new law as professional landlords, which means they will be expected to adhere to the same rules.

“That might be unfortunate for them, but in the round the Renters’ Rights Bill is positive for so many reasons for both tenants and landlords, and it should be welcomed.”