Awaab’s Law to be extended to all rented homes – here’s how it will affect you --[Reported by Umva mag]

A law to which aims to overhaul the rights of people living in private rental homes has reached its latest stage in Parliament – and it could mean big changes in the lives of tenants.

This afternoon, the House of Commons will host the second reading of Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill.

The legislation picks up pledges, including the banning of Section 21 no-fault evictions, which were made by the last government in its Renters (Reform) Bill before it was abandoned ahead of the General Election.

It will also introduce Awaab’s Law to the private sector. Named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by the mould in his parents’ flat, the law requires landlords to fix health hazards in their properties within a fixed timeframe.

Awaab’s Law has been in effect for social housing since July last year, but the new Bill would significantly broaden its scope.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said she is ‘determined to get this Bill into law as soon as possible’.

She added: ‘The thousands of children and families living in unsafe housing or under the cruel threat of a Section 21 eviction notice have been waiting far too long already.

‘We will deliver on our promise to renters and transform the sector into one where families can put down roots, where children can grow up in healthy homes, and where young people can save for their future.’

Among the other measures currently included in the Renters’ Rights Bill are:

• Handing tenants more powers to challenge unreasonable rent increases supported by a tribunal – while also preventing landlords from raising rents more than once a year and restricting those increases to the market rate
• Introducing a new Ombudsman service to cut down the time taken to reach a resolution over disputes
• Giving local councils increased powers to tackle bad landlords – including by increasing the maximum fines to £40,000 for serious offenders
• Preventing landlords from refusing tenants’ requests for a pet without reasonable grounds

Housing campaigners say the new Bill represents a significant step forward, but could still be improved.

A new report from the Renters’ Reform Coalition – a consortium of organisations including charities, tenants’ unions and campaign groups – reveals evictees in England face an average cost of £2,216 for unwanted house moves, and recommends a system of rent compensation be introduced.

Coalition director Tom Darling also called for Awaab’s Law to be strengthened further by giving tenants a right to a ‘mediated rent pause’ if landlords refuse to carry out essential repairs on time.

He said: ‘Nobody should be paying through the nose to live in an unsafe or unhealthy home.’

Polly Neate, the chief executive of Shelter, said the Bill ‘cannot leave room for loopholes’, adding: ‘It must limit in-tenancy rent increases so they’re in line with either inflation or wage growth.

‘Renters must be protected from eviction for two years, and discriminatory practices that drive homelessness, like demands for huge sums of rent in advance, must be stamped out.’

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