The House of Lords has proposed a series of amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill, drawing a positive response from industry leaders who have long campaigned for more balanced legislation.
With the Bill poised to reshape the landscape of the private rented sector, the coming weeks will be crucial as policymakers, landlords and tenant advocates scrutinise the amendments and their potential impact.
Allison Thompson (main picture), National Lettings Managing Director at Leaders Romans Group (LRG), hailed the amendments as a “significant and positive step forward.”
Thompson also wants lawmakers to address concerns raised by the private rented sector and reflect sustained lobbying efforts, particularly by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).
SECTION 21
The proposed changes include retaining fixed-term tenancies, linking rent increases to inflation through indexation, ensuring student lets remain viable and delaying the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions until court capacity is thoroughly reviewed.
These revisions aim to strike a fair balance between protecting tenants’ rights and supporting the operational stability of landlords.
JUDICIAL CAPACITY
Thompson welcomes the commitment to evaluating judicial capacity, stressing that small landlords – who represent a large portion of the rental market – require a just system to manage their properties effectively.
She says that the amendments offer “thoughtful and much-needed suggestions” to ensure the Bill does not disproportionately burden those providing rental homes.
And she adds: “Now, it’s vital that these amendments are given the attention they deserve.
“A well-functioning rental market relies on fairness for both tenants and landlords, and these proposed changes help move us towards a more balanced and workable framework.”
