The Renters’ Rights Bill needs to increase funding of the justice system to cope with changes like the abolition of Section 21 evictions, the Law Society of England and Wales has warned.
Without doing so the organisation warned that the bill would be ‘ineffective’ and ‘difficult to enforce’.
Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society, said: “We are pleased that the Renters’ Rights Bill proposes widely supported reform, including the immediate ban of ‘no-fault’ evictions and an end to rental bidding wars.
“This reform is long overdue, as the growing housing crisis has left renters vulnerable to unjust treatment and forced homelessness. It is vital that renters are afforded clear rights, while balancing landlords’ routes to repossessions.
“We support the bill’s ambitious efforts, however, we remain concerned that an underfunded justice system will make rental reform difficult to achieve.”
The bill will today start its passage through the House of Lords – and it’s hoped the Peers will look to find solutions to issues which could drive landlords out of the market.
Atkinson added: “While the government’s proposals to increase housing legal aid fees are a welcome development, there remains more to be done around the scope of legal aid, which would enable more renters to obtain legal advice at an earlier stage.
“The Bill may also lead to more contested hearings, as landlords will now have to show good reason for eviction. Renters will have a greater ability to challenge evictions, which may lead to additional cases entering the court system. The government must outline how it intends to equip courts with adequate resources to handle this rising demand, while dealing with existing backlogs.
“While we applaud the government for its great strides to bolster tenant rights, the Bill will not be effective without further investment in the justice system. We urge the government to provide greater funding and more clarity to the enforcement provisions so that justice is accessible to renters and landlords alike.”