If you are a tenant and renting from a private landlord or estate agent, you may be able to claim rent back from them if they fail to provide suitable accommodation. This is under plans being considered in Westminster.
Renters could soon be able to sue their landlords for refunds on rent if their property is not maintained properly. The government is considering legislation that would enable tenants to get a refund in rent if their homes aren’t repaired in a timely manner.
Michael Gove is again housing secretary, after he was reinstated by new PM Rishi Sunak. But he is viewed as having a tougher and more uncompromising approach to making changes to housing.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has revealed that the government is looking at ways to improve conditions for renters, in an interview with the BBC.
Gove said: “We have new legislation to make sure that central landlords live up to their responsibilities. tougher regulation, a stronger voice for tenants, bigger penalties for social landlords who are keeping people in homes for social rent which are not fit for habitation.”
“And we’re also bringing in legislation to deal with the private rented sector as well.”
He also said the government would offer “targeted support”, without clarifying what that would mean.
The Renters’ Reform Bill, which would introduce a limit on rent increases and an end to No-fault evictions, is one step closer to becoming legislation.
Landlords have bitterly criticised the scheme in the past, saying it makes it harder for investors to turf out bad tenants.
However, research has found that landlords are using Section 21 evictions to evict tenants for valid complaints about poor quality housing.