‘The Renters’ Rights Act is a key step in empowering tenants’

As West of England MPs, we are very aware of the housing crisis and its impact on our constituents.

Our inboxes are full of emails from people who are being priced out of their homes or being evicted through no fault of their own.

Others are living with damp and mould and can’t get their landlords to carry out basic repairs.

Tackling the housing crisis and building more homes is a key priority for this government, which has overhauled planning and is investing a record £39bn in new social and affordable homes.

It will, however, take a while for this to have a real impact.

In the meantime, we know that renters in the areas we represent are struggling with rising rents and, too often, sub-standard accommodation.

Until now, the balance of rights between landlords and tenants has been weighted in the former’s favour. Too often, the law has not protected them.

On Friday, this begins to change, as the first parts of the government’s new Renters’ Rights Act come into force.

As your MPs, we are proud to have voted for it.

While many landlords respect their tenants and do their best to keep their properties in a decent condition, this Act is a very welcome step forward in protecting renters whose landlords don’t.

Among the changes being implemented on Friday are an end to Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, making it illegal to:

• increase rents more than once a year
• ask for more than one month’s rent in advance
• pit prospective tenants against each other in bidding wars
• discriminate against prospective tenants because they have children or are on benefits;
• issue ‘fixed term’ tenancies; all tenancies will have no set end date

Tenants are being given the right to:

• terminate their tenancy at any time with two months’ notice
• ask to have a pet, which cannot be unreasonably refused
• have written information about key terms for all new tenancies – with any verbal agreements to be formalised by May 31

Over the coming months, we’ll see further changes, including the introduction of a new Private Landlords’ Ombudsman, a private-rented sector database, improved enforcement powers for councils and higher housing standards.

But these powers are only helpful if people are aware of them, which is why we have joined forces as your MPs to publicise the changes in Bristol24/7.

We’re backing the WE Rent campaign, a collective of organisations from across the West of England coming together to promote the changes and to support renters and landlords who need advice on what the changes mean for them, led by the inspirational housing charity Housing Matters.

We are under no illusions that this solves the housing crisis.

There is still far more to do to make housing affordable for everyone, and to build the new homes this country needs.

But it is a key step in empowering tenants and ensuring a fair relationship between landlords and renters.

If you ever need support with your housing and you think we might be able to help, please do get in touch with whichever one of us is your local MP.

This is an opinion piece by Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy and Bristol North East MP Damien Egan

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

• Renters asked for views on Bristol’s housing crisis
• ‘The Renters’ Rights Act is a once-in-a-generation opportunity – but only if people understand what it means for them’
• Social housing waiting list slashed by 20% as thousands removed