How will the Renters (Reform) Bill affect housing associations?

The Renters (Reform) Bill gives new securities to private renters and aims to protect the rights of tenants, but will also affect the social housing sector.

The long-awaited Renters (Reform) Bill was published on 17 May 2023, aiming to introduce new legislation for the private rented sector. We welcome any change to the law that protects the rights of tenants and gives private renters more secure homes.

However, the Bill will also affect the social housing sector, who also use assured tenancies. We’ve been working with the Department for Levelling Up Homes and Communities (DLUHC) since the original consultation for the Bill in 2019 to make sure it works for the social housing sector.

Through this process, the government has taken on many of our concerns and tried to address them when drafting the Bill. Thanks to engagement from the NHF and members, the government has made changes to the originally proposed legislation around the possession of properties and rent changes, specifically for the social housing sector, including temporary and supported housing.

However, there remain some areas we would like clarification on for housing associations on areas of the Bill that could impact on our members. We've addressed these in a recent submission to the Public Bill Committee.

Download our most recent submission on the Renters (Reform) Bill by using the links below.

What are the main aims of the Renters (Reform) Bill?

To make renting more secure by abolishing ‘no fault’ evictions and fixed term tenancies.
To make it easier for landlords to repossess properties due to antisocial behaviour or missed rent payments.
To resolve tenant-landlord disputes through a new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman, which private landlords must join.

How will the Renters (Reform) Bill effect housing associations?

The new tenancy system means all tenancies will now be assured tenancies.
It introduces new grounds for possession that are accessible to registered providers of social housing.
It will reform existing possession grounds and notice periods.
There are changes to the way rent increases work for private registered providers of social housing.