Officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) working on the Renters’ Rights Bill spent 90 minutes with member representatives from across the country listening to the specific concerns of members and their clients about the proposed legislation. Propertymark has launched a member toolkit to support members share their expert perspectives with their local MPs and encourage them to work with us to find real solutions to the housing crisis, plus resources to help facilitate positive conversations with landlords.

The Renters Rights Bill represents a significant overhaul of the way that the private rented sector functions. Following its introduction to parliament on 11 September 2024, myths and misconceptions have begun circulating throughout the property sector and amongst consumers about what the proposed legislation means in practice. With so many seeking clarity, Propertymark is here to provide confidence about what is going to change and what will remain the same.

The Local Government and Housing Directorate, led by Minister for Housing Paul McLennan MSP, assessed the Bill and decided that no substantial amendments would be introduced, which is disappointing.

Introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 26 March 2024, the Bill sets out plans to make changes to the law, covering rent controls, tenants’ rights to keep pets and decorate their homes, and a mechanism to delay evictions under certain circumstances.

Following several high-profile attacks by XL Bully dogs in recent years governments across the UK have put measures in place to ban the breed and impose requirements on people who own them. There has been understandable concern from agents and landlords about the implications for them of the introduction and operation of the new safeguards.

Following the release of the ‘A Fairer Private Rented Sector’ White Paper in June 2022, the Renters (Reform) Bill, published on 17 May 2023, has adopted the UK Government's commitment to the right for tenants to request permission to keep a pet, and amending the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to permit pet insurance.

Introduced to the House of Commons on Wednesday 17 May 2023, the Bill sets out the UK Government’s plan to deliver on the Conservative Party’s policies to reform the private rented sector in England.

The consultation response on the Draft Rented Sector Strategy 'A New Deal for Tenants' has been published and the Scottish Government will undertake further discussions with key stakeholders to inform and shape the final rented sector strategy and legislation.

The UK Government has proposed some key changes to the PRS, outlined in the Fairer Renting White paper with pet ownership to become more accessible for tenants. With just 7 per cent of properties stating they are ‘pet friendly’, there are ways to reduce the likelihood of deposit disputes.

An online survey showed that pet damage is extremely common in properties where landlords rent to tenants with pets and the costs are difficult to recoup. With the demand for pet-friendly homes continuing to increase, the UK Government must now understand the costs for landlords and implement rules that support the sector.

The UK Government has published a Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper that claims it will redress the balance between landlords and 4.4 million tenants in the private rented sector (PRS).

What’s the damage? a joint survey between Propertymark, the National Residential Landlords Association (NLRA), LandlordZone and pets’ charity AdvoCATS has been launched to establish the true cost of damages to rental accommodation by tenants.

Northumbria Law School and the Open University are conducting research into whether private rented sector (PRS) landlords rent to tenants with pets and the issues and/or benefits of doing so.

A new Report and Open Letter have been sent to the Secretary of State for Housing to highlight the negative impact the Tenant Fees Act has had on renting with pets.