Lord Carter of Haslemere

The government is committed to empowering tenants to challenge unreasonable rent increases, to protect tenants from undue financial hardship and prevent rent hikes being used as a form of backdoor eviction once Section 21 notices have been abolished.

We recognise that there is inherent uncertainty as to the volume of rent increase challenges that will be brought when the tenancy reforms in the Renters’ Rights Bill come into force. This is why we have put in place a proportionate safeguard for use in circumstances where it has become clear that the Tribunal system is on course to be overwhelmed.

We intend to use the power if the Tribunal appears at risk of being overwhelmed by a sharp increase in challenges and it has become necessary to avoid lengthy delays for genuine cases to be heard. It will be subject to the affirmative procedure, to allow appropriate parliamentary scrutiny.

The Renters’ Rights Bill will introduce new protections for tenants who temporarily fall into rent arrears, supporting both parties by preventing tenancies which are otherwise viable from ending. We will protect tenants from eviction if their arrears are due to the timing of a relevant welfare payment. Tenants will not face mandatory eviction under Ground 8 if they breach the three months arrears threshold because they have not yet received a Universal Credit payment for housing costs which they have been assessed as entitled to.

As Universal Credit is assessed every month, the protection period will apply in any period between the end of an assessment period and the relevant Universal Credit payment, which can usually be up to five days.

We continue to work closely with the Ministry of Justice to agree how the Renter’s’ Rights Bill will be implemented so that the justice system has the resources needed to adjust to any changes in caseload.

Work is also progressing on updating Court and Tribunal rules and procedures in readiness for the implementation of the new legislation.

We are committed to digitising the court process to make it more efficient and easier to understand for landlords and tenants.

In the longer term we expect our reforms to reduce the volume of court possession claims, as only those cases where there is a clear, well-evidenced ground for possession will be able to proceed. This will help to offset any increased pressure on the courts resulting from our reforms.

We continue to work closely with the Ministry of Justice to agree how the Renter’s’ Rights Bill will be implemented so that the justice system has the resources needed to adjust to any changes in caseload.

Work is also progressing on updating Court and Tribunal rules and procedures in readiness for the implementation of the new legislation.

We are committed to digitising the court process to make it more efficient and easier to understand for landlords and tenants.

In the longer term we expect our reforms to reduce the volume of court possession claims, as only those cases where there is a clear, well-evidenced ground for possession will be able to proceed. This will help to offset any increased pressure on the courts resulting from our reforms.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not hold the requested information centrally. To obtain this data would require a detailed analysis of the individual case records, which could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.