Michael Gove MP

Housing secretary Michael Gove said the Renters’ (Reform) Bill will allow tenants to challenge poor landlords without losing their home.

A new ombudsman will be established to oversee dispute resolutions while a digital “property portal” will be set up to assist property managers in understanding their obligations, the Government said.

Renters will also be given the legal right to request a pet in their home which landlords must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse, according to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Mr Gove said the plans represent a “new deal” with “fairness at its heart” – but critics argue reforms are “long overdue” and the Bill fails to protect tenants from rent hikes being used to circumvent the new rules.

“Too many renters are living in damp, unsafe, cold homes, powerless to put things right, and with the threat of sudden eviction hanging over them,” the Housing Secretary said.

“This Government is determined to tackle these injustices by offering a new deal to those living in the private rented sector; one with quality, affordability and fairness at its heart.”

DLUHC says its plans will affect 11 million tenants in England and two million landlords, who it claims will be more easily able to evict anti-social tenants, and the number of disruptive and harmful activities that can lead to eviction will be broadened.

Notice periods will be reduced where renters have been “irresponsible” – for example, by breaching their tenancy agreement or causing damage to the property, according to the Government.

The Bill also seeks to make it illegal for landlords and agents to impose blanket bans on renting to benefit claimants or families with children, and apply home quality standards to the private rented sector for the first time.

Matt Downie, Crisis chief executive, said: “After years of waiting, the publication of the Renters Reform Bill is an important moment for the millions of people currently renting their home across England who are in desperate need of some stability.

“Through our services, we see how the lack of security for renters is driving up homelessness. Day in day out, we witness the emotional and financial toll it is having on thousands of people across our country. It should never have been acceptable for people to live in fear of eviction and homelessness, forced to tolerate dangerous conditions so they can keep a roof over their head. Ending this is now finally in sight.

“Over the coming months, we look forward to working with the Government as the Bill progresses. Now is the time to finally put an end to unnecessary evictions that force people into homelessness and ensure that everyone has a safe, secure place to call home.”

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, suggested that the Bill lacks detail, saying: “Responsible landlords need to be confident that when Section 21 ends, where they have a legitimate reason, they will be able to repossess their properties as quickly as possible. Without this assurance, the Bill will only exacerbate the rental housing supply crisis many tenants now face.”