‘A welcome redress’: Dorset councillors back renter's rights shake-up
The Renters' Rights Act has officially launched, banning "no-fault" evictions and limiting rent increases to just once a year for all Dorset tenants
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Sweeping new rights for private renters have been welcomed by councillors in Dorset, who say the changes could rebalance power between tenants and landlords.
Members at Dorset Council said the legislation – which comes in from today - marks a significant shift, particularly in areas with high concentrations of privately rented homes.
Jon Orrell, representing Melcombe Regis, said his ward alone contains around 1,050 private lets in houses of multiple occupation, many in older Victorian properties where standards can vary.
“While the vast majority of landlords are good and responsible, there are a substantial minority who are not great landlords,” he said. “Some of the housing standards in my ward are not great and can cause adverse health impacts.”
He added that tenants have often been reluctant to complain due to fear of eviction, something the new rules aim to address.
This new Renter’s Rights bill introduces the highly anticipated ban on Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions – ending the practice of evicting tenants without justification which will give renters greater security.
Gill Taylor said the reforms would allow councils to act more proactively and enable them to issue fines of up to £40,000 for non-compliant landlords and introduce a register covering all private rentals.
“This will act as a strong deterrent against poor practices and will drive up standards,” she said, adding it could also help prevent homelessness and ease pressure on social services.
Other changes will protect renters’ pockets by limiting rent increases to once a year and upfront rent demands to just one month’s payment.
Bidding wars are now banned, so no one has to battle it out with high offers to secure a place and tenants can challenge unreasonable rent hikes.
Renters now have the flexibility to end any tenancy with no more than two months’ notice, as fixed-term agreements become invalid from today.
It is now also illegal to discriminate against prospective tenants for being on benefits or having children and pet requests must be reasonably considered.
However, concerns remain about implementation. Richard Biggs described the changes as “a brave new world” and warned they could place additional strain on council resources.
Meanwhile, Carole Jones called for fairness across the system, arguing that tenants in social housing should also be held accountable where properties are damaged or rent left unpaid.