Renters' Rights Bill - Presentation by Solicitor David Smith

The "Renters' Rights Bill" has been cited as the biggest change in our sector for over 30 years.
Front and centre stage is the end of Section 21, the "no fault" method of gaining possession of a rental property but there are other things happening in the Renters' Rights Bill that are going significantly impact a landlord's business and how it operates.
At the recent TLIC (The Letting Industtry Council) meeting in London, well known industry commentator, David Smith of JMW Solicitors, unpacked the Renters' Rights' Bill in some detail and there are some major things aside from Section 21 removal that landlords need to understand and start planning for.
Please note: Due to a techical problem, we missed the section of David's talk about pets in private renting.

[@propertytribes]

Learn more and join our community & discussion here: www.propertytribes.com/renters-rights-bill-un-packed-by-solicitor-t-127664442.html

[@DuaneJasper]

Brilliant presentation.
I want to raise my concern that the Section 21 ban will in part worsen the housing crisis by forcing agents and landlords to only accept the highest paid, most squeaky clean tenants. Previous to this we have had a culture of trust to some extent- providing people meet and surpass a threshold, we are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and let them get themselves a home and move on with their lives. Now that will be shattered; and only those with the more privilege (better educated/connected> better jobs) and wealth will dominate the sector. It also raises issues in multi let HMOs- what if one tenant is just not a nice person- a sex pest, or unhygienic, or too noisy for example? Unless these things are done to the extreme and reported on, there won't be section 8 facility to get rid of them, while the other 4 or 5 people have to suffer

[@propertytribes]

Thank you for your thoughts. Please do share them on the thread where we are discussing this: propertytribes.com/renters-rights-bill-un-packed-by-solicitor-t-127664442.html

Not a rental sector 'car crash', more a massive motorway pile up.

[@abdullahk8691]

True. Rents will go up and vetting through the roof!!!!

This will be an absolute disaster for millions or tenants (the ones that don't end up living with they mum and dad or in caravans), never mind landlords and agents. The full consequences are incalculable, including impact on new development/finance, mortgage availability, refurbishment difficulties etc. Nothing will be done to alleviate court delays, which will grow exponentially.

[@Anthony23041953]

I don’t take any deposits from any tenants. So do I have to start taking deposits or what do I do? Interestingly in 15 yrs as a landlord, no problems with damage

[@AbenaAboagye-sl6lh]

So glad I’m no longer a landlord. I think it’s going to make things difficult for both tenants and landlords.

[@matthewspry4217]

All this will get priced into forward rents, POOR TENANTS

[@jabbaart]

regarding there will be no fixed term and instead will be periodic from the beginning - will this apply to HMO student properties? i have 5 hmo properties thait i exclusively advertise for students for 11 months minimum term fixed. if they can decide when to leave eg after 6/7 months that would be a serious issue for me so i would chnage them all to professional HMO's, not students...anyone know?

[@propenomixwithadamlawrence]

That's the proposal in the current form yes. Check what's already happened in Scotland from 1 December 2017. There are still student properties but it has caused a sizeable student homelessness problem

[@simonfisher836]

If you have already served a section 21 but are going through the eviction process when this comes in will the courts still honour it?

[@whitecliffs]

Yes

[@steviestevie9762]

Have 3 properties in London. Family tenants with 3-4 children in each. Forced to evictall in order to sell. How is that fair for the Tenants. It is going to be mayhem

[@TruthAngelx]

If you know the law you can nullify all the bs. Lawful & legal, not the same , big difference. Any statute in conflict with the law must yield back.

[@maclal2099]

solicitors screw landlords all the time

[@Andy5c]

When is it expected the section 21 will come in? Never had to ask a tenant to leave before but just bought a property with a tenant in place with the intention to refurbish and sell so don't want to get caught out if I leave her there for longer than I should. Seem to think it was summer next year this all comes in to effect but can anyone clarify?

[@propertytribes]

The removal of Section 21 won't come in for a few months, but definitely by next summer.