The Renters' Rights Bill

On 11 September 2024, the government published the Renters' Rights Bill.  

This Bill aims to make sure private renters have access to a secure and decent home, but it also has implications for social housing tenancies.  

As the Bill nears it's final stages in Parliament, find out where we are now on this page.

Supporting our members on the Renters' Rights Bill 

At the NHF, we support the government’s plan to expand rights and protections for people renting their homes, and to value the contribution made by responsible landlords who provide quality homes. As the Bill moves through Parliament, we’re working to make sure the Bill works for providers of much-needed social homes.   
 
The Renters’ Rights Bill will enter the report stage in the House of Lords on 1 July. 

What has happened so far? 

As the Bill progresses through Parliament, our public affairs team has been engaging with MPs and stakeholders to give evidence about how the proposals will affect housing associations, and what amendments would improve the operating environment for social homes and their residents. Now, we’ve made significant progress on a number of key issues for our members within the Bill. These include: 

Social housing rents  
 
We have submitted both written and oral evidence about making the proposals around rent increases clearer or changing them. This would allow housing associations to continue to increase rents in a harmonised way. 
 
We have supported amendments tabled by Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe that aimed to seek clarification on how social housing providers will be able to increase their rents. 

Rent-to-buy

In our written and oral evidence to the government, we asked the government to extend Ground 1B on rent-to-buy to apply when the provider changes a social rented home to another rental product and amend the definition of "Rent to Buy Agreement".

We are pleased Ground 1B has now been extended. This will ensure there is maximum flexibility for social landlords to meet the demands of local housing markets.

Redevelopment of homes

In our evidence to the government, we said there should be grounds for possession of social homes for crucial development work, to improve the quality of social homes. To facilitate this, Ground 6 should be available to housing associations in all cases. We also sought clarity whether a "superior landlord" can be a housing association.

We’re pleased the government has now agreed amendments to Ground 6. The introduction of Ground 6ZA has given social landlords the grounds they need to access properties in need of essential redevelopment and improvement works. This will ensure social housing is good quality and safe for residents to live in.

NHF member briefing 

To support our members, we wrote a briefing after the Bill was published, explaining how Bill will affect housing associations. The briefing looks at key aspects of the Bill for social housing providers, including:

• Supported housing.  
• Rent-to-buy.  
• Rent increases.  
• Grounds for possession for redevelopment of homes.  
• Shared ownership. 

NHF members can download the full briefing using the link below. 

If you have any feedback, or concerns on any aspects of the Bill, please get in touch with our team using the contact details below. 

This page will be updated with any new developments on the Renters' Rights Bill.  

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