Renters’ Reform Bill 2023
A4R PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 17 May 2023
The Renters’ Reform bill which the Government pledged to deliver in 2019 finally sees the light today.
Advice for Renters (A4R) came into existence in 1989 when private tenants were protected by the Rent Act and regarded renting as a permanent home. This protection was removed by the Housing Act 1988 which replaced security of tenure with Shorthold tenancies. It became easy for landlords to evict their tenants, and this threat has been hanging like the Sword of Damocles over renters’ heads for the last 33 years, making then reluctant to complain about poor conditions, for fear of losing their home altogether. As a result, tens of thousands of rented homes are damp, cold and life-threatening.
“We can now look forward to a new era when renters can once again exercise their tenancy rights to a decent and safe home,” commented Advice for Renters Chief Executive, Joe Cole.
Jacky Peacock, OBE, who founded A4R and is now Head of Policy, added, “This legislation is an opportunity to bring the private rented sector into the digital age, by requiring landlords to evidence that homes are safe, decent, and competently managed through a Government property portal which should become a mandatory condition for letting. This has the potential to transform the sector and put private renting on a par with social renting and home ownership, instead of being the tenure of last resort.”
- End -
Note to Editors
Further information from Jacky Peacock jacky.peacock@advice4renters.org.uk
Mob. 07880 502830