The Government confirmed its intentions to repeal Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 in the May 2021 Queen's Speech, as originally set out in the Renters' Reform Bill, released in late 2019. An outline for the proposals will be released in Autumn 2021, which will consider the response to the consultation that took place before the pandemic. The abolition of Section 21 would put an end to so-called “no-fault evictions” as part of its on-going project to create longer tenancies. The government also announced concurrent plans to strengthen the grounds for repossession under Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988.  

The Government confirmed its intention to make changes to Section 8 in the Queen's Speech May 2021 as a part of its Renters' Reform Bill, to make it easier for landlords and letting agents acting on their behalf to regain control of their properties when Section 21 is abolished. These changes will include  "strengthening repossession grounds for landlords under Section 8 when they have valid cause". The government's initial proposals, which we've summarised below, were set out in its consultation document in 2019.

A guest blog by Paul Starkey, Chief Commercial Officer of Reapit.

Renting has traditionally been seen as a stepping stone to purchasing a property in the UK real estate market. But that could be changing, as more people are choosing to rent long-term as a lifestyle choice rather than a milestone.

Lifetime deposits are on the horizon, confirmed the government following the Queen's Speech in May 2021, announcing it would release its proposals for a new "lifetime" tenancy deposit model in Autumn 2021 as part of a sweeping package of reforms for the private rented sector. “Lifetime” deposits aim to “ease the burden on tenants when moving from one tenancy to the next, helping improve the experience of those living in the private rental sector”.

The situation with Covid-19 is rapidly changing and this article will continue to be updated throughout. For the latest guidelines, please refer to gov.uk.

The government has confirmed that the evictions ban will end on 31 May 2021, however, bailiffs have been asked not to carry out an eviction if anyone living in the property has Covid-19 symptoms or is self-isolating. From 1 June 2021, notice periods - which had previously been extended to six months' notice - will be reduced to four months' notice. The announcement also said that, "subject to the public health advice and progress with the Roadmap", notice periods will return to pre-pandemic levels from 1 October 2021.

How can you use data to demonstrate value to your landlords? How can you use this data to improve your performance further? You can monitor and analyse any information you gather to make intelligent and informed decisions, and more easily convince landlords why they should choose your agency. 

The Renters' Reform Bill is back on the agenda with the Queen's Speech confirming the government's intention to "enhance the rights of those who rent". In the briefing notes to the speech, the government announced that it would outline its "reform package" for the private rented sector in the autumn - which is set to include abolishing Section 21 and the introduction of lifetime deposits - with legislation to follow in due course.

"Our city centre branch deals with 90% apartments, but the Edgbaston area is an eclectic range of properties, including larger houses," says Andy McHugo, Associate Director at Birmingham-based estate and letting agency, James Laurence. "The professionals want to be close to work, while those on the outskirts want to be closer to the QE Hospital and other facilities."

The current guidance for letting agents and landlords on conducting right to rent checks on citizens of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein is expected to change on 30 June 2021.

Referencing can help flag many of the potential risks in renting a property to a new tenant, by delving into your tenants' background and circumstances. You can then make a decision on behalf of your landlord, or present them with your recommendations. You'll need to understand where your landlord may be willing to compromise and where you can help them manage risk, to make sure there's no ambiguity when you give the green light for a new tenant. You can also download a free checklist to help your tenants prepare for the referencing process and ensure they have the right information to hand.