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04 August 2023 / Gary Scott
Issue: 8036 / Categories: Opinion , Landlord&tenant , Property
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Will the Renters Reform Bill harm tenants?

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Intended to deliver a ‘renting revolution’, the Renters Reform Bill may ultimately achieve just the opposite: Gary Scott lists some causes for concern

The Renters Reform Bill is a bold attempt by government to change the structure and nature of the landlord and tenant relationship that has been in place for the past 30 years by abolishing assured shorthold tenancies. The aim is to remedy existing issues within the rental sector and to try to balance tenants’ security and a settled home life against the flexibility of landlords to deal with their property. The proposed legislation seems to have at its heart the idea that both parties should play fair.

What’s in the Bill?

What some have called the ‘no-fault’ eviction mechanism will be ended, but it would better be described as the ending of ‘no-reason’ evictions. Landlords would still have specified permitted reasons for eviction where the tenant is not at fault.

The right to end a tenancy for rent arrears is set to be changed

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

Fieldfisher partner appointed president as LSLA marks milestone year

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Firm promotes two lawyers to partnership across employment and family

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Firm promotes five lawyers to partnership across key growth areas

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
A quiet month for employment cases still delivers key legal clarifications. In his latest Employment Law Brief for NLJ, Ian Smith reports that whistleblowing protection remains intact even where disclosures are partly self-serving, provided the worker reasonably believes they serve the ‘public interest’ 
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