Queen's Speech: what next for rental reform?
The Queen's Speech revealed a new white paper outlining the Government’s proposals on PRS reform will be published this autumn.
The white paper will come two years after the Government announced it was planning to abolish Section 21 repossessions under its new plans for the Renters’ Reform Bill in the 2019 Queen’s Speech.
Its outline proposals include some of the biggest changes to the way the private rented sector operates in more than 30 years.
This year's speech, on Tuesday, May 11 also revealed that the Government will publish the response to its 2019 consultation on the removal of Section 21 this year, as well as strengthening repossession grounds for landlords with valid cause. It will also outline proposals for a new ‘lifetime’ tenancy deposit model.
What next?
The white paper - a policy document which provides clear proposals from government about future legislation - will be published on the reform package in the autumn and there will be extensive stakeholder engagement to inform and shape these reforms.
The NRLA has urged Government to use the time to ensure the planned changes are fair and workable for both landlords and tenants.
The package is expected to require all private landlords to belong to a redress scheme, consider further reforms of the private renter sector enforcement system and explore improvements to the possession process in the courts.
The NRLA launched its Renters’ Reform Bill proposals in 2020, following consultation with members and those across the sector. The proposals have been sent to Government and the association will continue to campaign to shape the planned reforms.
Housing announcements
Other sector announcements in the Queen's Speech included:
- Planning Bill – The Bill will create a simpler, faster and more modern planning system to replace the current one that dates back to 1947.
- Leaseholder Reform (Ground Rent) Bill – The Bill will legally set ground rents in residential long leases as a ‘peppercorn rent’ level. It will ensure that leaseholders of new, long residential leases cannot be charged a financial ground rent for no tangible service.
- Building Safety Bill - The Bill will establish the Building Safety Regulator. It will update existing building safety regulation and make provision to support the removal of unsafe cladding, including through a financing scheme to pay for costs and a levy to ensure the development industry meets a fair share of the cost of remediating unsafe cladding.