The UK government has announced significant changes to property rental laws, with the media already describing the Renters' Rights Bill as the most transformative housing reform in 30 years. The key element of the proposed legislation is a ban on evictions without reason.

The reform will primarily target periodic tenancy agreements, which are comparable to Poland’s open-ended rental contracts. In the UK, these agreements automatically renew—either weekly or monthly—until either party decides to terminate. Under previous rules, landlords could evict tenants at any time through no-fault evictions, giving between two and six months’ notice, depending on the type of contract.

The UK property market is now where Poland is heading, with rental properties increasingly controlled by ‘professional landlords’ and rental agencies that profit from multiple units. According to uswitch.com, in 2023, 18.8% of UK properties were part of the private rental market.

In addition to banning evictions without reason, the new rules will grant tenants the right to keep pets and require landlords to address structural issues, such as damp and mould, within a specified timeframe. The English Housing Survey has revealed that the private rented sector typically contains some of the oldest and least well-maintained properties.

The Renters' Rights Bill will also put an end to 'bidding wars' in the rental market. Landlords and letting agents will be legally required to publish an asking rent for their properties and will be prohibited from accepting or encouraging offers above this price. Furthermore, landlords will no longer be able to post advertisements excluding families with children or people receiving benefits.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook stated that the new law could be implemented as early as mid-2025. Labour has also highlighted that the legislation will eliminate the risk of arbitrary evictions while providing tenants with greater security and stability. Pennycook added that the law would still allow landlords to reclaim their properties under clear and extended legal grounds if necessary.

Source: bigissue.com, bbc.com