This note provides an overview of the Renters' Rights Bill, as drafted at its introduction in September 2024. The Bill is currently in the reading stage before being finalised and added to the statute book, so up-to-date guidance should be sought where necessary.
The Bill aims to reform the residential rental market in England, most notably by abolishing assured shorthold tenancies and section 21 "no-fault" evictions.
It also introduces the right for tenants to ask to keep a pet at their rental property, a redress scheme that residential landlords must join, and a database of private landlords and rental properties.
The Bill does not apply to secure tenancies provided by local authorities. However, it does apply to tenancies provided by Private Registered Providers of social housing and supported accommodation, as well as landlords providing temporary accommodation to homeless households on behalf of local authorities.
What are the reforms under the Bill?
The key reforms are individually discussed in detail below, but, in summary, include:
- The abolition of fixed-term assured tenancies and assured shorthold tenancies. These will be replaced with periodic assured tenancies.
- The abolition of "no-fault" evictions under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
- Amendments and expansions to grounds for possession.
- Amendments to the statutory procedures for proposing rent increases and challenging the amount or increase of rent.
- A right for tenants to ask to keep pets in their rented properties.
- A duty on landlords to provide tenants with a written statement of terms and information before the tenancy is entered.
- A ban on discriminating against prospective tenants who have children or who receive benefits.
- A prohibition on rental bidding, where a landlord invites offers of rent that are higher than the advertised rent.
- An expansion of Awaab's Law to the private sector.
- A new redress scheme.
- A new Private Rented Sector database.
- Applying the Decent Homes Standard to the Private Rented Sector.
Will it be the end of certain kinds of assured tenancy?
All new assured tenancies will be periodic and can no longer have fixed terms.
The periodic tenancies must be for the same duration as the rent payment period, which must be either monthly or less than 28 days. If the tenancy agreement purports to provide for longer periods, those provisions will be of no effect, and the rent will instead be payable monthly on a pro-rata basis.
This is considered to give tenants more flexibility to end tenancies when they need to, including when landlords fail to meet their obligations.
The provisions will apply to all new tenancies created on or after the commencement date (when the relevant part of the Bill comes into force), whilst all existing assured tenancies will immediately become periodic assured tenancies.
Where an existing lease restricts the tenant's ability to sublet only on a fixed-term assured tenancy, the tenant will instead be permitted to sublet on a periodic assured tenancy.
What is the future of "Assured Shorthold" and section 21 (no fault) notices?
It will not be possible to create Assured Shorthold Tenancies in the future, whilst existing Assured Shorthold Tenancies will become periodic tenancies at the commencement date.
Where an existing lease restricts the tenant's ability to sublet only on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy basis, the tenant will instead be permitted to sublet on a periodic tenancy.
It will no longer be possible for landlords to seek to recover possession by serving a notice under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 on a so-called "no-fault" basis. In the future, a landlord will only be able to recover possession if it serves a section 8 notice, relying upon one or more of the grounds for possession contained in Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988, which it must prove in court.
However, it is proposed that the statutory grounds for possession be widened, and the requirement to provide a reason for seeking possession will make it harder for landlords to recover possession if they cannot rely on one of the statutory grounds.
Are there changes to grounds for possession and notice periods?
Currently, a landlord can terminate an assured tenancy by relying on certain grounds for possession contained in Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988. A section 8 notice must be served. This option is available in addition to the "no-fault" basis for terminating contained in the section.
The Bill will amend and widen some of the grounds for possession in Schedule 2 and amend some of the notice periods that apply to different grounds for possession. These grounds for possession will become even more significant due to the proposed abolition of section 21.
The Bill does not include a mandatory ground for repeated serious rent arrears. Unless the landlord can rely on Ground 8, the landlord will need to seek possession for arrears on one or more of the discretionary grounds.
What grounds will most likely affect the private rented sector?
Ground 1: occupation by the landlord or landlord's spouse, civil partner, person with whom the landlord lives, etc.
The Bill proposes that the existing ground be extended so that the landlord can rely on it, not only where they require the property back to live in as their (or their spouse or civil partner's) only or principal home, but also where a parent, grandparent, sibling, half-sibling, child, grandchild, or child or grandchild of any of the above wishes to move in. There will not be any need for the landlord to have previously lived in the property or given prior notice that the ground may be used. However, it is proposed that in order to rely on this ground, the tenancy must have begun at least one year before the date specified in the Section 8 notice. It is also proposed that a four-month notice period be applied to this ground.
New Ground 1A: sale of dwelling-house
It is proposed that a landlord will be able to rely on this ground where it intends to sell a freehold or leasehold interest in the property or grant a lease for a term of more than 21 years. In order to rely on this ground, the tenancy must have begun at least one year before the date specified in the Section 8 notice, and a four-month notice period will apply.
Ground 2: sale by mortgagee
It is proposed that it will no longer be necessary for the mortgage to have been granted before the beginning of the tenancy or for prior notice to have been given that the ground may be used. The proposed notice period for this ground is four months.
New Ground 6A: compliance with enforcement action
It is proposed that a landlord will be able to rely on this ground where it was itself subject to certain enforcement action (for example, a banning order or improvement notice, where it does not have a house in multiple occupations (HMO) licence) and needs to regain possession to become compliant. The proposed notice period for this ground is four months.
Ground 7A: severe anti-social/criminal behaviour
It is proposed to amend the notice period for this ground so that a landlord can commence possession proceedings immediately after service of a section 8 notice, but the court would not be able to make a possession order until at least 14 days after service of the notice.
Ground 8: rent arrears
Rent is unpaid at the time of service of the Section 8 notice and at the date of the possession hearing, being at least thirteen weeks' rent arrears if rent is payable weekly or fortnightly or at least three months' rent arrears if rent is payable monthly. The notice period for this existing ground is proposed to increase from two to four weeks. In addition, if the tenant is entitled to Universal Credit, any amount that was unpaid only because the tenant had not yet received the payment will be ignored when calculating the amount of unpaid rent.
Ground 14 : anti-social behaviour
The tenant, or anyone living in or visiting the property; has been guilty of behaviour causing, or likely to cause, nuisance or annoyance to the landlord or anyone living in, visiting, or in the locality of the property; or, has been convicted of using the premises for illegal or immoral purposes, or has been convicted of an indictable offence in the locality.
The Bill requires that the court consider whether the person against whom the order is sought has co-operated with the landlord's attempts to encourage the conduct to cease. Where the tenant occupies an HMO, the court must consider the effect of the conduct on the other occupiers of the HMO. The Bill proposes to amend the notice period so that the landlord can commence possession proceedings immediately after service of a section 8 notice, but the court cannot make a possession order until at least 14 days after service of the notice.
What grounds will most likely affect social landlords?
New Ground 1B: sale of dwelling-house under rent-to-buy
This ground would enable a landlord who is a registered provider of social housing to recover possession where the period in a rent-to-buy agreement has expired and the landlord intends to sell the property.
New Ground 5B: employment requirements
This ground would enable a social landlord to recover possession where the property is held for the use of tenants who meet employment criteria, and the property is required for that purpose.
New Ground 5D: end of employment requirements
When a tenancy agreement between the tenant and a private registered provider of social housing requires that the tenant meet certain employment criteria, the landlord can use this ground if the tenant no longer meets those criteria.
New Ground 5E : occupation as supported accommodation
This ground would enable a landlord to recover possession where the property is usually intended to be used as supported housing, but the current tenancy was not granted for this purpose, and it is needed to return the property to that use.
New Grounds 5F and 18 : dwelling-house as supported accommodation:
These grounds would allow supported accommodation providers to end a tenancy where it is necessary to enable them to continue to operate safely and effectively or protect the viability of their service.
New Ground 5G: tenancy granted for homelessness duty
This ground would enable a landlord to recover possession where the tenancy was granted for the purposes of allowing a Local Housing Authority to deliver the main housing duty under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996, but the Local Housing Authority has notified the landlord that the tenancy is no longer required.
New Ground 5H: occupation as "stepping stone" accommodation
This would apply where a landlord is a registered provider of social housing or a charity and all of the following apply:
- The tenancy was granted because the tenant met one or more eligibility conditions;
- Those conditions were set out in a written tenancy agreement;
- The tenant no longer meets those conditions, or the tenancy was granted for a limited period to help the tenant transition to living independently, and that period has ended, and
- The rent is no higher than the highest amount of "affordable rent.
What grounds will most likely affect agricultural landlords?
New Ground 5A: occupation by agricultural worker
This new ground would enable a landlord to recover possession in order to house seasonal or permanent agricultural workers who are employed by the landlord.
The Bill also proposes to introduce a number of new penalties and offences associated with these grounds for possession, as discussed below.
What are the restrictions on the use of Section 8 notices?
The court may not make an order for possession unless the landlord has complied with the requirements in the Housing Act 2004 regarding protecting the tenant's deposit.
As currently applies to the use of the Section 21 process, but not currently Section 8, for a landlord to obtain an order for possession, an authorised scheme must hold the tenancy deposit, and the scheme's requirements must have been complied with.
However, there is a slight variation in that late compliance can be remedied. This restriction does not apply if the landlord is seeking to rely on Ground 7A, severe anti-social behaviour/criminal behaviour, or Ground 14, anti-social behaviour.
A landlord must comply with the requirements relating to entries in the private rented sector database, and this restriction applies unless the ground for possession is Ground 7A, severe anti-social behaviour/criminal behaviour, or Ground 14, anti-social behaviour.
These requirements must be satisfied before a court will make an order for possession. If they are not satisfied when the landlord serves a Section 8 notice, there is time for the landlord to remedy the situation before the possession hearing. The Section 8 notice will not be invalid if the landlord has not satisfied these requirements at the time the notice is served, provided they are remedied before the hearing. Financial penalties associated with the protection of tenants' deposits remain unaffected.
Does the Bill change existing notices and possession proceedings?
Where possession proceedings have already been commenced but have not concluded before the commencement date or have not been commenced yet but are not time-barred, then the Section 21 notice will remain valid, and the tenancy will remain an assured shorthold tenancy until possession proceedings in reliance on the notice become time-barred or are concluded.
In relation to Section 21 possession proceedings that have not been started before the commencement date, the landlord has until the end of six months beginning with the date on which the notice was given or three months from the commencement date if this period ends sooner.
Where Section 8 proceedings have already been started but not concluded, the Section 8 notice that was served before the commencement date remains valid until possession proceedings become time-barred or are concluded. The landlord must commence proceedings by the end of 12 months from the date of the notice or three months beginning with the commencement date if this three-month period ends sooner.
Does the Renter's Rights affect rent increases and over-payments?
Currently, the rent under a fixed-term assured tenancy can be increased where the tenancy contains a rent increase clause.
The rent on periodic assured tenancies can be increased by the landlord serving notice under section 13 of the Housing Act 1988 (subject to the tenant's right to refer the matter to the First-tier Tribunal to determine the open market rent).
Section 13 will apply to assured tenancies, other than relevant low-cost tenancies, and rent can only be increased by;
- The landlord serving a section 13 notice proposing the new rent or
- By determination of the open market rent (under section 14) by the Tribunal or
- A written agreement between the parties following a Tribunal determination (where the agreed rent is less than the rent determined).
It will, therefore, no longer be possible to rely on a rent increase clause in a tenancy agreement.
The section 13 notice period will increase from one month to two months.
The increase cannot take effect until at least 52 weeks after the tenancy began.
The new rent will not take effect on the intended date if the tenant previously applied to the Tribunal to challenge the proposed increase or the parties have agreed on a lower rent.
Where the tenant makes an application to determine, the Tribunal can determine whether the notice served on the tenant under section 13 is valid.
A new section 13A is added to the Housing Act 1988 to govern rent increases in relevant low-cost tenancies. This is broadly similar to section 13, though with some differences.
A relevant low-cost tenancy is defined as either an assured tenancy of social housing, within the meaning of Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (HRA 2008), where the landlord is a private registered provider of social housing or any other assured tenancy of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.
Unlike section 13, tenants under relevant low-cost tenancies will retain the ability to include provisions in the tenancy agreement to increase rent. The parties are free to vary their low-cost tenancy however they wish, including any terms relating to rent.
How can you challenge the amount or increase in rent?
A tenant can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to challenge the rent amount. In summary, a tenant of an assured tenancy may make an application to the Tribunal in the prescribed form. No application can be made where the rent payable has previously been determined or more than six months have passed since the beginning of the tenancy.
The rent shall take effect from the date the Tribunal directs, which must be no earlier than the application date.
A tenant of an assured tenancy can apply to the Tribunal in the prescribed form to challenge an increase in rent proposed under Section 13. The rent shall take effect from the beginning of the new period specified in the notice (under section 13) or (if it appears to the Tribunal that it would cause undue hardship to the tenant) a date directed by the Tribunal (being no later than the determination date).
For rent overpayments, where a tenant has paid rent in advance, and the tenancy ends, the tenant will be entitled to a refund of any rent that relates to days falling after the end of the tenancy.
Will I have a right to keep a pet in my rental property?
There is no current statutory right for a tenant to keep a pet at their rental property or to request to keep one. The terms of the tenancy will dictate whether a tenant can keep a pet, but it is common for tenancy agreements to prohibit pets.
The Bill introduces a new right for a tenant to request permission to have a pet. The right is implied into every assured tenancy, other than a tenancy of social housing.
A tenant may keep a pet at the dwelling house if the tenant has asked to do so in accordance with section 16A and the landlord has consented. Such consent is not to be unreasonably refused, and section 16B(4) confirms that reasonable refusal includes where consenting to a pet would put the landlord in breach of an agreement with a superior landlord or where superior landlord consent has been sought but not provided.
The tenant's application must be in writing and describe the pet. The pet does not need to be owned by the tenant; it can just live at the tenant's dwelling house.
Consent, or refusal, is to be given in writing on or before the 28th day after the date of the request, subject to slight timing adjustments where the landlord requires further information or a superior landlord's consent is required. Note that the obligation not unreasonably to refuse consent to keeping a pet does not seem to extend to superior landlords.
The landlord and tenant may agree to delay the consent deadline, but the court may order specific performance if the landlord does not comply.
As part of giving consent, the landlord may impose a condition requiring insurance for pet damage to the property. The condition could require the tenant to have insurance against damage caused by the pet or to reimburse the landlord for the reasonable costs of taking out insurance against damage by a pet.
The Bill would amend the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to permit the landlord to require a tenant to pay for insurance against damage by a pet.
What are the duties of landlords?
The landlord must give the tenant a written statement before entering the tenancy.
The landlord may include a statement of the landlord's wish to recover possession of the dwelling on Grounds 1B, 2ZA to 2ZD, 4, 5 to 5H or 18. If such a statement is not included, the landlord cannot rely on these "advance notice" grounds. A breach of this requirement does not prevent a court from making a possession order on the ground in question, but the landlord may still face a financial penalty under proposed new section 16I(1) of the Housing Act 1988.
There are some limited exceptions to the requirement to provide the statement before the tenancy is entered into, including where the tenancy arises by succession. Where an exception applies, the statement must be provided within 28 days of the date on which the landlord acknowledges the tenant's right to a tenancy, where the landlord has entered into a contract with a third party, such as a letting agent, that requires the third party to provide the information required.
There are sanctions for not providing a written statement, discussed below.
Some transitional provisions relate to oral or partly oral Assured Shorthold Tenancies in existence immediately before the commencement date. Under these provisions, landlords will have a one-month window to provide written information about such tenancies.
Other duties include that a landlord must not;
- Purport to let the dwelling on a tenancy for a fixed term,
- Purport to bring the tenancy to an end by service of a notice to quit,
- Purport to bring the tenancy to an end orally (or require that it is brought to an end orally),
- Serve a purported notice of possession on the tenant specifying a ground that they do not reasonably believe that the landlord is, will or may be able to obtain an order for possession upon,
- Rely on any "advance notice" ground that should have been, but was not, specified in the written statement given to the tenant before the start of the tenancy.
There are restrictions on the landlord's ability to market and relet the dwelling if possession was obtained as a result of serving a section 8 notice specifying Ground 1 (occupation by landlord or landlord's spouse) or 1A (require possession to sell). The "restricted period" will usually start on the date that the notice of possession was served and end 12 months after the date specified in the Section 8 notice as the earliest date on which possession proceedings can begin.
These duties apply to the "relevant person". The relevant person means the landlord, a person acting on behalf of the landlord otherwise than as a legal representative or a person purporting to act on behalf of the landlord and there are sanctions for non-compliance.
What are the financial penalties and offences?
A Local Housing Authority can impose a financial penalty on a former or current landlord under an assured tenancy where that landlord failed to comply with the duty to give a statement of terms and other information or any other duties described above. The Local Housing Authority must be satisfied that the landlord did contravene these sections. The maximum penalty is £7,000, and this cannot be imposed if ongoing criminal proceedings are taking place under the section or a financial penalty has been imposed.
The Bill introduces new offences punishable as a summary conviction by fine. These offences include where both of the following apply:
- A relevant person relies on a ground for possession contained in Schedule 2, knowing that the landlord would not be able to obtain an order for possession on that ground or being reckless as to whether the landlord would be able to do so.
- The tenant then surrenders the tenancy within the period of four months, beginning with the date the ground was relied upon, without an order for possession of the dwelling housing being made.
Offences also include breaching the requirements of the marketing restrictions, which apply after a person has sought to rely on Ground 1 or Ground 1A.
What are the other changes in the Renter's Reform Bill?
A tenant cannot give notice to terminate a tenancy during the fixed term. To end a periodic tenancy, a tenant would need to provide a minimum of four weeks' notice and possibly longer, depending on the terms of the tenancy agreement or the period for which rent was last payable.
A tenancy agreement might require a tenant to give a notice to quit in a particular way, and once a notice to terminate has been served, it cannot be withdrawn. The parties can agree not to act on a notice to quit, but this will be deemed, in law, to constitute the creation of a new tenancy with effect from the expiry of the notice.
The Bill will amend the notice period required by a tenant to terminate an assured tenancy so that a tenant must give at least two months' notice in writing. This notice must still align with the end of a rent period, subject to any shorter period the parties might have agreed.
Landlords will not be able to specify a particular form of written communication a notice to quit must take, making it easier for tenants to satisfy the requirement to provide notice to end their tenancy in writing.
The Bill also provides that a tenant's notice to quit premises, let under an assured tenancy, can be withdrawn before the proposed termination date if the landlord and tenant agree in writing. This provision will enable the parties to agree that the original periodic assured tenancy should continue.
These amendments only affect notices to quit in relation to assured tenancies. The notice periods that landlords and tenants must give to terminate other types of tenancies or licences are unaffected. For other tenancies where the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 applies, a notice to quit will still need to be given at least four weeks before the date on which the notice is to take effect.
What are the tenancy deposit requirements?
The Bill proposes amending the Housing Act 2004 so that the obligation to protect tenancy deposits will apply to new assured tenancies and will continue to apply concerning tenancies that were Assured Shorthold Tenancies immediately before the commencement date. Landlords will need to have protected deposits in line with section 213 of the 2004 Act before a court will award possession. This will apply to all grounds for possession contained in Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988.
This means that similar restrictions to those that currently apply when a landlord uses the Section 21 procedure will in the future apply when a landlord seeks to recover possession under the Section 8 procedure. All other sanctions that currently apply when a deposit has not been properly protected in relation to an Assured Shorthold Tenancy will continue to apply to assured tenancies.
A new section 215 of the Housing Act 2004 sets out the conditions that the court must meet to order possession under the Section 8 procedure. The conditions will not apply, however, if the deposit has been returned or where a court application for financial sanctions has been made and that application has been determined, withdrawn, or settled.
The Bill will maintain the current position that a deposit does not need to be protected if the tenancy was an Assured Shorthold Tenancy created before 6 April 2007.
Are there any other consequential amendments?
Schedule 1 of the Housing Act 1988 lists the tenancies that cannot be assured tenancies or assured shorthold tenancies. The Bill amends Schedule 1 of the Housing Act 1988 so that "a fixed term tenancy of a term certain of more than seven years from the date of the grant of the tenancy" can no longer be an assured tenancy. This amendment intends to clarify that longer residential leases can still be granted, but the risk of them inadvertently becoming assured tenancies is removed.
The Bill sets out amendments to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to ensure that private registered providers of social housing remain bound by the repairing obligations for tenancies of more than seven years which would have been assured tenancies, were it not for this exclusion.
Discrimination in the rental market
The Bill prohibits prospective landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants who would have a child living with them or visiting them. A prospective landlord must not prevent someone from enquiring about the property, viewing the property, or taking a tenancy of the dwelling on the basis that a child might live with or visit the prospective tenant. Blanket policies or practices that would deter a tenant who would have children living with them or visiting them are also prohibited.
A term in a tenancy agreement that prohibits the tenant from having a child live with or visit them will be of no effect. However, there is an exception if the landlord can show that their conduct is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim or is required to fulfil the terms of an existing insurance policy.
The Bill prohibits prospective landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants who claim benefits, and it applies only to landlords in the private rented sector. A prospective landlord must not prevent someone from enquiring about the property, viewing the property or taking a tenancy of the dwelling on the basis that the prospective tenant claims benefits. Blanket policies or practices that deter a tenant claiming benefits are also prohibited. A term in a tenancy agreement that prohibits the tenant from being a benefits claimant will be of no effect. However, there is an exception if the landlord can show that their conduct is required to fulfil the terms of an existing insurance policy.
A Local Housing Authority can impose financial penalties for violating these provisions.
Will rental bidding be stopped?
The Bill proposes that when a landlord advertises a property for rent, the proposed rent must be specified in the advert. The landlord must not invite or accept offers of rent that are higher than the rent stated in the advert. A Local Housing Authority will be able to impose financial penalties if a landlord is in breach.
What are the penalties for unlawful eviction or harassment of occupiers?
The Bill amends the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 and grants Local Housing Authorities the ability to impose a fine of up to £40,000 for a breach of section 1 of the Act (unlawful deprivation of occupation) as an alternative to pursuing a criminal conviction. If a financial penalty is imposed, the person could not then be convicted of the offence.
A new Schedule A1 will be inserted, which sets out the procedure for imposing financial penalties, appeals against penalties, enforcement of penalties and how Local Housing Authorities are to deal with the proceeds of penalties.
Extending Awaab's Law to the private sector
Section 42 of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 introduced a new section 10A to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, requiring social landlords to investigate and fix reported health hazards. The requirement, known as "Awaab's Law", was in response to the death of a two-year-old, Awaab Ishak, resulting from mould in his social housing home in 2020. The Bill extends the application of Awaab's Law to Private Sector Rental properties, including those occupied under a licence.
Are there any landlord redress schemes?
The Bill empowers the Secretary of State to make regulations requiring residential landlords to join a landlord redress scheme.
The scheme provides for a complaint by or on behalf of a prospective, current or former residential tenant against a scheme member to be independently investigated and determined by an independent individual. The scheme must be approved by, or administered by or on behalf of, the Secretary of State.
The regulations may require prospective residential landlords to join the redress scheme before marketing the dwelling and to remain members for a specified period after ceasing to be residential landlords.
A Local Housing Authority may impose a financial penalty for breach of these requirements.
The Bill extends the offences committed by a landlord that can be subject to a Rent Repayment Order to include breaches concerning a landlord redress scheme.
What is the private rented sector database?
The Bill provides for the introduction of a Private Rented Sector database, which must contain entries in respect of:
- Persons who are, or who intended to become, residential landlords.
- Dwellings which are, or are intended to be, let under residential tenancies.
- Persons who are subject to banning orders or who have been subject to financial penalties or convictions under the Bill.
A dwelling must not be marketed to create a residential tenancy unless there is an active landlord entry on the database for the person who will be the residential landlord of that tenancy and an active dwelling entry for that dwelling.
The landlord must ensure that an active landlord entry and an active dwelling entry are in place throughout the tenancy and must comply with any regulations on keeping the entries up to date.
A breach of this requirement does not affect the validity or enforceability of a residential tenancy or other contract.
The Bill also inserts a new subsection 7(5ZA) into the Housing Act 1988, in addition to financial penalties and offences for breaching the database requirements. The provision will prevent the court from granting a possession order if the landlord has failed to ensure that there is both an active landlord entry and an active dwelling entry in the database.
The Bill extends the offences committed by a landlord that can be subject to a Rent Repayment Order to include continuing breaches of the requirement to have an active landlord and dwelling entry on the new database or the knowing or reckless provision of false or misleading information to the database.
Extension of the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector
The Bill gives the Secretary of State the power to make regulations extending the "Decent Homes Standard" to most properties in the residential Private Rented Sector. Properties let by registered providers of social housing are excluded from the scope of the relevant clause as such properties are already required to meet the Decent Homes Standard.
