Private renters will benefit from stronger protections, greater transparency and more confidence in the homes they rent under the next phase of the government’s Renters’ Rights Act reforms.
Through a new national landlord registration service and a clearer route to challenge rent increases in England, renters will be able to make more informed choices about where they live and resolve disputes with their landlord more efficiently.
Gradually rolling out region by region from December, the new registration service will give councils access to information to help them spot rogue landlords and take quicker action.
In the future, prospective landlords will also need to register, and tenants will be able to see whether their landlord or prospective landlord has signed up – giving renters more confidence that a landlord is genuine and following the rules.
This will create a fairer market for landlords, helping good ones demonstrate their strong standards, while stopping rogue ones from undercutting them.
In addition, HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) Valuation Office will become responsible for decisions on challenges to rent increases in England, helping people resolve rent disputes more quickly. While the government develops these reforms, renters who want to challenge a rent increase must still apply to the First-tier Tribunal. If they do, they will not have to pay the higher rent until the Tribunal has made its final decision.