Nottingham has been given a boost for stronger enforcement against rogue landlords after new protections for renters came into force.
From May this year, all landlords must now adhere to the Labour Government’s Renters’ Rights Act, with new protections including a ban on no-fault evictions, so that tenants can no longer be ordered to leave their homes without a lawful reason.
Tenants have been promised the change for years, after former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May first pledged to put in a ban on no-fault evictions in 2019.
The Government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has now given Nottingham City Council just under £300,000 to implement the new legal duties, with council staff workloads expected to rise as a result.
The Labour-led authority says the money will allow for “stronger enforcement against rogue landlords”, as well as extending the Decent Homes Standard and tackling discrimination in lettings.
New Decent Homes Standards now mean a home must be free of dangerous hazards, in a reasonable state of repair, provide core facilities, thermal comfort, and be free of damp and mould.
“These amendments will impact on existing team resources through increased intelligence sharing, greater demand for landlord compliance and enforcement work, and more referrals concerning housing conditions, illegal evictions, and tenancy rights,” Paul Greevy, Strategic Housing Manager, said.
“It will also include additional data reporting and an increased need for resident awareness campaigns regarding new tenant rights. The funding will enable an increase in both resources and raising awareness of the Act, enabling the local authority to meet its statutory duties.”
The Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May.
Concerns were raised in the city before this time, as hundreds of tenants were evicted under a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ notice.
Between February and April this year, 230 individuals and families in the city sought help from the council’s Housing Solutions team, having been served a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction notice.
In the same three months last year, 479 people were served with the notice by their landlords in the private rented sector.
The new law also got rid of fixed-term tenancies in favour of rolling periodic tenancies, which makes it easier to leave. Pets are now allowed and can only be banned with good reason. Landlords must give at least two months’ notice of a rent increase, and they can only be increased once per year.
Tenants may also challenge the increase, and it may only be raised to market rates.
Reform UK has been criticised over its proposals to scrap the law should it take control in 2029, with campaign groups accusing Nigel Farage’s rebranded Brexit Party of siding with rogue landlords.
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter