As the Renters’ Rights Bill enters the House of Lords, Joanna Elson CBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age says:
“For the growing number of older private renters, over a third of who are in poverty after housing costs, the Renters’ Rights Bill cannot become law soon enough. We’re pleased to see the Bill making its way through the House of Lords and welcome the many positive measures currently within in. However, with this once in a generation opportunity to make renting work better for everyone, there are key measures needed to further strengthen it.
“People renting in later life tell us that they’re currently terrified of being evicted with only a month’s notice, feel they cannot ask for reasonable repairs to be made, or are asked to meet restrictive, expensive and unfair affordability checks.
“We welcome the fact that the Renters’ Rights Bill already contains so many positive measures which will improve the experience of renting for people at all ages, including an end to ‘No Fault’ evictions, longer notice periods when people are evicted for permissible reasons within the new rules, the implementation of Awaab’s Law (which means a landlord must act on damp and mould complaints within a set timeframe), and the Decent Homes Standard, and a limit on upfront rent payments. It’s important that the Bill travels through the UK parliament quickly so that these measures become law.
“However, the Bill could be strengthened to include restrictions on the circumstances in which a landlord can request a guarantor. Older people often find it difficult to provide a guarantor, and it is often unnecessary when they have a regular income and can demonstrate previous payment of rent. The Bill should also make sure that the proposed database- to give tenants information about a property and its landlord- is fully accessible to everyone, including older people who may not be able to, or want to, access this information online.”