The Renters (Reform) Bill ‘runs the risk of failing to achieve its objectives’

The Renters (Reform) Bill, which proposes a range of new rights for tenants, runs the risk of failing to achieve its objectives, it has been claimed.

The TDS Group says it is growing increasingly concerned that tenants do not feel confident about where to go for help when things go wrong in the private rented sector.

The proposed bill includes a new Decent Homes Standard for private rented housing, and measures to prevent discrimination against benefit claimants and families with children.

It will also establish a new Ombudsman covering private sector landlords, to operate alongside the enforcement roles already played by councils, the courts, the police, tenancy deposit schemes, letting agent redress schemes and trading standards.

Dr Jennifer Harris, head of policy and Research at TDS Group, said: “The Renters (Reform) Bill will see the biggest shake up of the private rented sector for a generation. However, it runs the risk of failing to achieve its objectives if tenants do not feel confident about where to go for help when things go wrong.”

Half of all private renters surveyed by the TDS Charitable Foundation said they would not know where to turn to if a landlord or letting agent failed to address a problem in a property.

Just over 50% of the 2,000 respondents did not know where they would turn to for help if their agent or landlord did not address a problem in the first instance.

The survey found that tenants want much better guidance about where to turn to for help. Almost half (48%) said they wanted clearer information about how to raise a complaint when needed.

Almost seven in ten (69%) tenants said they would use a website dedicated to helping people to solve their housing issues if they had a problem with their tenancy.

In consultation with tenant, landlord, letting agent and justice groups, the TDS Charitable Foundation is working to develop such a site. The ‘My Housing Issue’ Gateway will provide a central location for tenants to understand where, and how, to direct concerns they might have regarding their rental property.

Dr Harris added:“New rights for tenants need to be matched by improved access to information about how to enforce them. Without this, the only winners will be the minority of landlords that are failing to provide safe housing.

“That’s why the TDS Charitable Foundation is developing the “My Housing Issue” Gateway service to ensure tenants can easily establish where, and how, to direct complaints and concerns they might have.”