Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitor Daniel Bacon Discusses the Renters' Reform Bill in the New Law Journal (4 August 2023)

An article written by Solicitor Daniel Bacon has been published in the New Law Journal, discussing the impact that the government’s proposed Renters' Reform Bill will have on the private rental sector. In the article, Daniel explains that the reforms to private rental market will see the abolishment of ‘no-fault’s 21 eviction procedure and the assured short hold tenancy (AST). Abolishment of the AST means that it will no longer be possible to establish shorthold agreements, such as a private contract for a one-year rental arrangement. Instead, all rental agreements will inherently be of an indefinite nature, only terminating when the tenant decides or when the court determines that one of the revised criteria in Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 has been met. Daniel asserts that the primary objective behind the introduction of the AST framework, along with Section 21 regulations, was to enhance investor confidence and encourage the expansion of the private rental market. As a result, the sector has grown from housing 7% of households in 1988 to the current 20%. Following prolonged periods of inadequate funding for social and affordable housing, both the government and the entire nation now heavily depend on the private rental sector. However, as per National Residential Landlords' Association statistics, approximately 30% of landlords have expressed their inclination to exit the sector if this Bill were to be enacted. The enactment of the Renters' Reform Bill may detrimentally effect the private rental market; abolishing the innovations that made the expansion of this sector possible and opening the possibility of it returning to its pre-1998 Housing Act position. You can read Daniel’s full article in the New Law Journal Here About the Author Daniel Bacon is a solicitor and supervisor in the Housing and Property Litigation department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. Daniel acts for landlords and tenants in a variety of litigation matters including evictions, succession to tenancies, housing conditions, and homelessness, on a private, CFA, or Legal Aid basis. Our housing team, ranked by The Legal 500 directory for its services across England and Wales, provides assistance to both landlords and tenants on all housing issues. Our solicitors are highly experienced in finding solutions to housing disputes and aim to address the issues quickly and effectively. For assistance on any housing matter, contact Daniel at DanielBa@duncanlewis.com or