Regulation of private renting

The number of people living in private rented accommodation has doubled in the last 20 years, and there are now an estimated 4.4 million privately rented households in England, with rents outside London increasing at the fastest rate on record in 2021. While most tenants have a good experience of renting, those who do not … Show more

The number of people living in private rented accommodation has doubled in the last 20 years, and there are now an estimated 4.4 million privately rented households in England, with rents outside London increasing at the fastest rate on record in 2021. While most tenants have a good experience of renting, those who do not can end up with serious illness, financial issues or homelessness. DLUHC sets the overall policy and regulatory framework for renting and aims to ensure the sector is fair for tenants. Local authorities are responsible for regulating the sector and protecting tenants by ensuring landlords and agents comply with relevant obligations. DLUHC is currently developing reforms in this area, focusing on security and quality of private renting. The Committee will question residential rental sector stakeholders and senior officials at DLUHC on the extent to which the regulation of private renting in England is fair for renters . It will cover: Whether DLUHC has a clear regulatory strategy to meet its aims, based on a good understanding of problems for private renters; whether the regulatory regime, including oversight by DLUHC, incentivises and supports landlords to treat tenants fairly and comply with regulations; and The extent to which consumers are empowered to enforce their rights when things go wrong, and whether regulatory interventions are targeted at those in most need. If you have evidence on these issues please submit it here by Monday 24 January 2022 Show less