There is much to be lauded in the proposed Renters Reform Bill. The government has confirmed that the Bill will be introduced before the end of the current session of Parliament (May 2023). If it passes unamended, it will become illegal for landlords and letting agents to refuse to rent homes to benefit claimants. This will help to level the rental playing field.

However, UK rental guarantor service Housing Hand has warned that the Bill in its current form is also likely to drive down the level of available stock when it comes to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

“The abolition of section 21 notices is – on the surface – a good thing, as it will protect tenants from ‘no fault’ evictions and give more security of tenure. Yet there is a flaw, as when combined with the ability of tenants to give two months’ notice the Bill fails to protect landlords equally. For HMO landlords, many of whom house students, the spectre of being given two months’ notice and then dealing with extended void periods and tenant-finding costs during term time may be a breaking point. This in turn could mean that the stock of HMO accommodation will likely diminish as a direct result of the Renters Reform Bill.”

Graham Hayward, Chief Operating Officer, Housing Hand

With stock reducing, competition between tenants will increase. Those keen to secure rental properties quickly will likely offer payment upfront – and that is a retrograde step from an inclusion perspective.

The Housing Hand team is preparing to combat this increased inequality as part of its mission to reduce barriers to renting. The organisation has taken steps to become ‘rent reform ready’. It is now challenging other players in the private rented sector to do the same.

At Housing Hand, that means putting services in place to support renters to get pre-validated so that they are ready to move fast when they find the property they want. The company has already engaged with accommodation providers around the country to help facilitate a smooth migration to the new market conditions, including pre-validation checks. Its recently announced partnership with Canopy plays a key role in this. Accommodation providers who have signed up to Housing Hand’s enhanced service have seen validation timescales move from 48 hours to 48 seconds as a result of the partnership.

With updated technology and processes in place to better support both renters and landlords, Housing Hand has already seen an uptick of 20.6% in accepting applicants using the company as a guarantor. It has also seen an increase of 25.6% in custom arrangements with HMO landlords, Build to Rent accommodation providers and purpose-built student accommodation providers. Universities are more engaged in helping gain a suitable stock of accommodation for their latest cohort but in some cities this has already reached challenging levels through lack of available stock. House Hand has also extended its reach by acting as guarantor for university in-house accommodation (halls of residence).
“The Renters Reform Bill in its current form is certainly not without its issues. However, the sector needs to prepare for its impact, flawed or not. By working together to innovate and create a system that supports both landlords and tenants, we can help to level the playing field and break down barriers to renting. It’s time to get rent reform ready.”

Graham Hayward, Chief Operating Officer, Housing Hand