NRLA Supports Renters (Reform) Bill as Fair for Tenants and Landlords

As the Renters (Reform) Bill returns to Parliament, it faces scrutiny from both tenant advocacy groups and the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). The NRLA views the bill as a balanced compromise that includes the abolition of Section 21 evictions and introduces new protections for tenants, such as a Decent Homes Standard and anti-discrimination measures. Despite this, groups like the Renters' Reform Coalition and Generation Rent argue that the bill falls short of its promises and favors landlords.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, emphasizes that the bill offers a fair deal for tenants and responsible landlords, aiming to ensure certainty in the rental sector. The bill proposes abolishing Section 21 repossessions, fixed-term tenancies, and establishing a Property Portal and Ombudsman. However, tenant groups criticize the bill for maintaining a power imbalance and failing to fully abolish Section 21, leading to continued insecurity and poor living conditions for renters.

The Renters' Reform Coalition demands significant changes, including reversing concessions to MPs, extending eviction notice periods, and preventing economic evictions due to unaffordable rent increases. Ben Twomey of Generation Rent stresses that the bill must fulfill its original promise of ending no-fault evictions to provide true security for renters.

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