The Renters (Reform) Bill was first introduced on 17 May 2023. Now, a year on from when it was first taken to parliament, here is everything agents need to know to be Reform ready.
Following the government published 'A Fairer Private Rented Sector' White Paper in 2022, the long-awaited Renters (Reform) Bill was first introduced into parliament on 17 May 2023, promising to create large ripples in the private rental sector.
The bill has just passed the second reading within the House of Lords and is in the committee stage, with no definitive date of when it will become law. Letting agents should prepare now before the bill receives royal ascent so that when the commencement date is announced, they don’t face any nasty surprises.
Goodlord experts have put together a list of what agents can do to become Reform ready.
- How to prepare for Section 21
- How to prepare for the change with periodic tenancies
- How to prepare with training
- How to prepare for The Decent Homes Standard
- How to prepare for Pets in lets
How to prepare for Section 21
Section 21 has been the greatest discussion point for letting agents and landlords when it comes to the Renters (Reform) Bill. With the House of Commons leaving it to the House of Lords to decide “the rate of progress” the courts will make.
Trilly Martin, Key Account Manager Lead at Goodlord, suggests agents should understand Section 21, as much as they can before the bill passes. “The abolishment of section 21 will create one of the largest ripples within the private rental sector. Because of this, landlords and agents will need to understand how they can evict tenants if the courts are reformed and under what reason they can serve a section 8 instead.
"I would recommend agents listen to our webinars and videos to understand how they may be affected and they’re in the know before the Renters (Reform) Bill becomes law”.
Watch our video on what agents need to know about the Renters (Reform) Bill
How to prepare for the change with periodic tenancies
The Renters (Reform) Bill introduced a major change in the private rental sector for periodic tenancies. With the proposal to abolish fixed-term tenancies, letting agents and landlords will soon need to reevaluate tenancy contracts to stay compliant.
Aaron Stannard, Customer Success Manager at Goodlord, believes that agents and landlords should understand why and how the change in periodic tenancies will happen before the Bill comes into force.
“While the change in the new tenancy system won’t be implemented straight away once the bill has passed, letting agents should understand how this will affect their agreements before it is implemented.
"Luckily, Goodlord has experts to help agents and landlords understand how elements of the bill will affect their business. I would really recommend watching our webinars to learn everything about the bill”.
Watch our latest webinar to become an expert in the Renters (Reform) Bill
Renters (Reform) Bill ready: Training
Arran Jones, Senior Sales Consultant at Goodlord, recommends agents should be as knowledgeable as they can before the Renters (Reform) Bill passes.
“Since the initial mention of the Renters (Reform) Bill in parliament, the government has introduced numerous amendments to the Bill, making it difficult for letting agents to keep up. Agents need to be as educated as they can be on the bill as it’ll benefit both their business and their landlords.
Goodlord’s Renters (Reform) Bill course has all the information that agents need to know about the bill all in the space of an hour. Through the course, agents can be prepared for any compliance and legislative surprises, and impress their landlords all while gaining a CPD credit.”
Take our free, CPD-accredited course on Renters (Reform) Bill
Renters (Reform) Bill ready: The Decent Homes Standard
Hannah Ward, Lead Customer Sales Manager at Goodlord, recommends agents should focus on the Decent Homes Standard, a brand new requirement for the private rental sector.
"The Decent Homes Standard was already a requirement for social landlords, but when the Renters (Reform) Bill was introduced in 2023, it was suggested to become necessary for private landlords. This means letting agents and landlords need to become accustomed to a brand new set of regulations for their homes, and not doing so can lead to a penalty of up to £30,000."
"Being aware of what landlords need to implement to make their property compliant is key to avoiding nasty fines. From having an up-to-date gas certificate through to ensuring the property is in a decent state of repair; I would really recommend agents understand a landlord's obligations prior to the implementation of the Renters (Reform) Bill."
Renters (Reform) Bill ready: Pets in Lets
Traditionally, it’s been difficult to find a property when tenants have a furry, fuzzy, scaly or feathery friend. Letting agents and landlords need to understand what they need to do in the future once the bill has passed, both before and after the referencing process.
Gareth Fitzhugh, Sales Consultant at Goodlord suggests that while pets in lets are exciting for tenants, landlords and letting agents need to know how to prepare for when the bill passes.
“Pre-tenancy is already a tricky yet important element of the tenancy process. The days of saying 'NO PETS' are coming to an end (with a few exceptions) so as more tenants will be able to introduce pets in their private rental properties, letting agents should know how to prepare for this change. Goodlord’s downloadable checklists will help agents be as prepared as possible before and after the Renters (Reform) Bill comes into effect”.
Download our pre-tenancy checklists for your tenants
