'Rogue landlords will face tough consequences', says mayor Richard Parker. Here's what the Renters RIght Act means

Richard Parker said Renters Right Act, which will mean landlords cannot evict tenants without good reason, formed part of sweeping changes to the private rental system when it comes into force on May 1.

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Other measures include a limit on rent increases and the end of fixed-term tenancy contracts and rental bidding.

Welcoming the new laws, Mr Parker said the region would be proactive in using them to improve quality of life for private renters and raise the decency and safety of their homes.

But he also encouraged the thousands of fair and responsible West Midlands landlords to find out what the changes would mean for them and use the next few months to get ready.

Mr Parker said the act represented the biggest changes for private renters in a generation, but also sought to create a fairer system for landlords by strengthening their rights with legally valid reasons to get their properties back – including rent arrears and anti-social behaviour.

He said: “Everyone deserves a safe, secure and decent home – it’s a fundamental right, and essential for people’s wellbeing and their ability to get on in life. 

“While many landlords do right by their tenants, there are others that don’t, leaving young children in damp, unhealthy homes, and their parents living in fear of losing their home through no fault of their own.

“We must keep driving up the standard of private rental accommodation in our region and protect vulnerable people and families.

“That’s why I will be working with our local councils in using these new laws to support fair minded landlords so they are ready for May 1, but also crackdown on those rogue landlords who have blighted too many lives for far too long.”

Councils will be legally responsible for overseeing the new laws, backed by stronger enforcement powers and support from the West Midlands Combined Authority, said Mr Parker.

This included fines of up to £7,000 for breaches, rising to £40,000 for repeated breaches of the rules or for serious offences. Tenants or local authorities would also be able to seek rent repayment orders, forcing landlords to pay back rent for offences.

Mr Parker said no-fault evictions put hundreds of West Midland families at risk of homelessness each year.

The act will also prevent landlords from increasing rents more than once a year, asking for more than one month’s rent in advance. and pitting prospective tenants against one another through rental bidding wars.

It will also make it illegal to discriminate against potential tenants because they receive benefits or have children.

Tenants will also be able to appeal excessive above-market rent increases that try to force them out and require landlords to consider requests to rent with a pet.

There are 225,000 privately rented homes in the West Midlands, but  Mr Parker said a quarter failed to meet minimum standards of decency due to issues such as excessive damp, mould and cold.

Later next year, the act will see the introduction of further protections. including the creation of a landlord ombudsman to help settle disputes between landlords and tenants and the introduction of a mandatory landlord database, which would provide important information on each rental property.

A consultation is expected to start on expanding Awaab’s Law, which aims to tackle damp and mouldy homes in the social housing sector, to the private rental sector to help protect private tenants from dangerous homes.

More information of the forthcoming changes and what they mean for landlords can be found at housinghub.campaign.gov.uk/renting-is-changing/