Key Facts

• There is currently no equivalent decent homes standard for the private rented sector.
• Of the 4.6 million households that rent privately, 23% live in properties failing the decent homes standard.
• The government aims to halve the number of non-decent rented homes by 2030.
• Government amendments will allow Ministers to set and enforce a new decent homes standard for private landlords.
• One in four homes in the private rented sector do not meet the decent homes standard.
• Around one million properties fail to meet the decent homes standard.
• An estimated one in ten homes has a category 1 hazard that poses serious harm risk.
• The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 was introduced to address poor conditions in social housing.
• New clause 60 seeks to extend Awaab’s law to the private rented sector.
• Establishing a new duty on landlords to ensure properties meet decent homes standard.
• Local councils can issue fines of up to £5,000 for non-compliant landlords.
• Exploring requiring landlords to register compliance with the decent homes standard on the property portal.
• Committing to writing about HHSRS review and DHS review in due course.
• There is a difference between large social housing landlords with maintenance teams and individual private landlords.
• 1.6 million children are living in damp, mouldy or cold homes due to poor conditions in the private rented sector.
• The government brought forward recent legislation for the social rented sector but not for the private rented sector.
• Amendments 102, 103, 104, 105 are moving clause 56 into Part 5 of the Bill.
• Amendment 107 inserts a definition for 'local housing authority' in clause 64.
• Amendment 108 allows regulations to include supplementary or incidental provision and make different provisions for different purposes.
• Amendment 169 seeks to ensure section 21 evictions are abolished on Royal Assent.
• There is no set maximum period between initial and second implementation dates, allowing indefinite postponement of existing tenancy transitions.
• The clause allows for a two-stage transition process with the Secretary of State determining precise starting dates.
• The reforms are the most significant changes to the private rented sector in 30 years.
• There is more than £1 million of funding for the design phase of a new digital service.
• There are 2.4 million landlords and 11 million renters affected by these reforms.
• Amendments provide for commencement two months after the Bill is passed for clauses relating to abandoned premises and investigatory powers.
• NC20 and NS1 powers come into force on Royal Assent.
• New Chapter 2A expected to be formed from new discriminatory practices clauses will be commenced by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
• Amendments are consequential on inserted new clauses, updating section references accordingly.
• Amendments enable Welsh Ministers to make transitional or saving provision for new clauses.
• New Clause 1 amends section 9A of the 1988 Act, adding co-operation with landlords as a factor in court considerations.
• New Clause 2 provides tenants with entitlement to have rent paid in advance refunded after their tenancy ends.
• The new clause applies to assured tenancies except for social housing under private registered providers.
• Landlords must give a written statement of specified terms and other required information before or on the start of the tenancy.
• Contractors of landlords are also subject to compliance with this section.
• The amendments are intended to replace clause 10 and apply to persons acting on behalf of landlords.
• New Clause 5 aims to prevent landlords from fulfilling or contravening an obligation through another person.
• New Clause 6 clarifies that duties imposed on contractors do not displace common law principles about agency.
• New Clause 7 makes tenants under assured tenancies liable for council tax until the end of their tenancy, even if they vacate early.
• New Clause 8 bans discrimination relating to children.
• New Clause 9 prohibits discrimination based on benefits status.
• Both clauses are expected to be part of a new Chapter 2A in the Renters (Reform) Bill.
• New Clause 11 provides for the ineffectiveness of tenancy terms prohibiting children living with tenants or restricting benefits claimant status.
• New Clause 12 makes ineffective lease terms requiring sub-tenants to prohibit having a child live at the dwelling or restrict their eligibility based on benefits status.
• Both clauses have exemptions if such provisions are required under insurance contracts to prevent breaches.
• New Clause 13 addresses mortgage terms relating to children or benefits status.
• New Clause 14 deals with insurance contract terms regarding children and benefits status, effective from the day it comes into force.
• New Clause 15 allows the Secretary of State by regulations to expand protections under Chapter 2A to other descriptions of persons.
• New Clause 18 repeals Part 3 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 concerning recovery of abandoned premises.
• New Clause 19 amends section 40 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to combine previous amendments into a single clause.
• New Clause 20 extends Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 to cover temporary accommodation provided under homelessness duties in England.
• The Housing and Planning Act 2016 is being amended.
• New Clause 22 allows county councils to notify local housing authorities about enforcement actions.
• New Clause 23 requires reporting on landlord legislation functions.
• New Clause 24 grants powers for information requirements from relevant persons.
• New Clause 25 gives local housing authorities the power to require information from property owners, agents, and others.
• New Clause 26 provides for civil enforcement if there is non-compliance with notices given under clause 25.
• New Clause 27 sets limitations on the use of information provided under section (Power of local housing authority to require information from any person).
• New Clause 28 confers power on local housing authorities to enter premises occupied by a rental sector business.
• New Clause 30 allows for the issuance of warrants by justices of the peace for local housing authority entry into premises under specified conditions.
• These new clauses aim to support functions under the rented accommodation legislation.
• New Clause 32 allows officers to require the production of documents for ascertaining compliance with rental legislation.
• New Clause 33 permits officers to seize documents if they reasonably suspect them to be required as evidence.
• New Clause 34 specifies that seized documents can only be detained for up to three months or longer if necessary for legal proceedings.
• The new clause (35) allows access to documents seized under NC33 with conditions.
• Clause 36 permits appeals against detention of documents by a magistrates' court or Crown Court.
• Clause 37 grants local housing authorities the power to enter premises suspected of having residential tenancies without a warrant.
• New Clause 38 allows local housing authorities to obtain warrants for entry if certain conditions are met.
• New Clause 39 sets out the effects of a warrant issued under section (Suspected residential tenancy: entry without warrant).
• New Clause 40 provides powers for persons accompanying officers during entries under this Chapter.
• New Clause 41 defines offences related to obstructing or failing to comply with requirements set by housing authority officers.
• New Clause 43 adds seizure powers from the Renters (Reform) Act 2024 to Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
• New Clause 44 amends sections 212A and 237 of the Housing Act 2004 to expand information use for statutory purposes related to rental properties.
• New Clause 45 expands document production and entry powers under the Housing Act 2004 for functions in relation to qualifying residential premises.
• New Clause 47 gives investigatory powers to local authorities.
• New Clause 48 confers power on Welsh Ministers to make consequential amendments relating to Part 1.
• Prohibitions against discrimination based on children or benefits status include text in the Welsh language.
• The new clause bans discrimination against individuals with children or benefits claimants.
• It affects occupation contracts related to Wales only.
• The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 provides for these contracts.
• The amendment seeks to add a new section 2A to prohibit discrimination in renting homes.
• It aims to protect individuals with children and those claiming benefits from being discriminated against by landlords.
• New clauses and amendments aim to prohibit discrimination against individuals with children or receiving benefits when seeking rental housing.
• Occupation contracts relate to Wales only, as provided by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.
• The provisions would be part of a new Chapter 2B of Part 1 of the Bill and insert a new Part 2A into the English language text of the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019.
• The amendment changes short titles from 'Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019' to 'Renting Homes (Fees, Discrimination etc.) (Wales) Act 2019'.
• It limits the regulation-making powers of Welsh Ministers under sections 8C and 8J.
• The amendment affects various provisions including section 41(2A) of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, Schedule 9A to the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, and specific regulations from 2022.
• The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 is being amended.
• New clauses would form part of Chapter 6A of the Bill.
• Landlords must not prohibit contract-holders from claiming payments under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 or the Welfare Reform Act 2012.
• Clause 14 sets out rules about the period of notice that a tenant can be required to provide when they wish to end an assured tenancy.
• The two-month default period of notice can be set aside where both parties agree as much in writing.
• New clause 53 seeks to protect tenants by requiring court authorisation for agreements providing shorter than the statutory two-month notice periods.
• New clause 56 aims to give courts discretion in cases under grounds 6, 8, and 8A.
• The current law limits court flexibility for mandatory possession grounds.
• Judges can currently postpone an order up to six weeks from the date made.
• Ground 6A covers situations where eviction is necessary for compliance with enforcement measures like banning orders.
• New Clause 58 would require landlords to state rent amounts when advertising properties.
• New Clause 60 aims to extend the requirements for dealing with property hazards to the private rented sector.
• New Clause 62 proposes limiting advance rent payments by landlords.
• New clause 67 would make all grounds discretionary.
• The Government argues this could undermine landlord confidence in recovering possession.
• Grounds such as selling property or reaching rent arrears threshold remain mandatory.
• Amendments are made to sections and schedules of the Housing Act 2004.
• Financial penalties can be imposed under section 6A up to £5,000.
• The Secretary of State has power to amend penalty amounts reflecting changes in the value of money.
• The local housing authority must give a notice of intent before imposing a financial penalty.
• A person has 28 days to make written representations after receiving the notice of intent.
• After the representation period, the authority decides whether to impose the penalty and communicates this in a final notice.
• Appeals against penalties or their amounts can be made within 28 days to the First-tier Tribunal.
• The Renters (Reform) Bill has been progressing through its stages in the Committee.
• Members acknowledge robust debate but emphasize the importance of reforms for landlords and tenants.
• Thanks are extended to Clerks, parliamentary staff, officials, and other contributors.