Renters Rights Bill Becomes Law – “A Momentous Victory for Renters in Erith and Thamesmead”
Abena Oppong-Asare, Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead, has hailed this week as a momentous and landmark moment for renters, as the Renters’ Rights Bill officially receives Royal Assent, delivering the biggest reform of renting in over forty years.
More than eleven million private renters across England, including over 2.7 million in London and over 115,000 in Greenwich and Bexley boroughs, will now benefit from stronger rights, greater security and fairer treatment in their homes. This will mean tens of thousands more families in Erith and Thamesmead constituency living in safer and more secure homes.
The new law abolishes Section 21 no-fault evictions, ending the practice that allowed landlords to remove tenants without reason. It introduces periodic tenancies so renters can stay as long as they need and gives councils new powers to crack down on rogue landlords.
The Act also ends rental bidding wars that push up costs, extends Awaab’s Law to private tenants to force landlords to fix dangerous damp and mould quickly, and applies the Decent Homes Standard to private rented homes for the first time. It makes discrimination against tenants with children or those receiving benefits illegal, creates a new Private Rented Sector Database and Ombudsman to improve transparency and ensure swift and fair dispute resolution, and strengthens renters’ rights to request pets so landlords can no longer refuse without good reason.
Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, said:
“This is a historic moment for renters in Erith and Thamesmead and across the country. For too long, families have faced insecurity, sudden evictions, and poor housing. That ends now.
“In the boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley, over 115,000 private renters will now have stronger rights, safer homes and real peace of mind.
“Labour has done in fifteen months what the Conservatives failed to deliver in fourteen years. We are giving renters the security and fairness they deserve – safe, stable homes where people can build their lives.
“But our work continues. In May’s local elections, we need strong Labour councils working with this Government to raise standards, enforce the rules, and build a fairer housing system for all.”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, said:
“Our historic Act marks the biggest leap forward in renters’ rights in a generation. We are finally ending the injustice overseen by previous governments that has left millions living in fear of losing their homes.
“For decades, the scales have been tipped against tenants. Now, we’re levelling the playing field between renters and landlords.
“We are tearing down the walls of injustice in the private rented sector and building a future where tenants are protected, respected and empowered.
“This is a historic moment for renters across the country and we’re proud to deliver it.”
This is the change millions were promised and never received under the Conservatives. Labour is delivering it – a fair deal for renters and a foundation for a better Britain.
