MP hails new Renters' Rights Bill that will improve lives of 10,000 people in Darlington

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy hailed the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill as a "truly transformational piece of legislation"

Approximately 10,000 residents in Darlington's private rented sector are set to benefit from new measures, according to local claims. Darlington MP Lola McEvoy hailed the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill as a "truly transformational piece of legislation" following Labour's unveiling of its plans to bolster renter protections.

The proposed Bill is designed to empower tenants to contest unreasonable rent hikes and impose limits on landlords, ensuring rents can only be increased once annually at the market rate. MP McEvoy believes the legislation will aid those who have suffered at the hands of negligent landlords, stating: "While most people live a decent life in my town, too many renting privately are struggling to get what I believe is a fundamental right - a secure and safe home. This will help them."

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also weighed in on Wednesday, vowing that every renter deserves a stable home and pledging to abolish no-fault evictions.

Highlighting the urgency for improved rights for veterans, Ms McEvoy shared the plight of a constituent, a father and veteran, who has been issued a section 21 notice, facing eviction without cause. With existing mental health issues, the veteran's situation is compounded by concerns that moving in with his elderly mother, who resides in a small bungalow, could jeopardise his shared custody arrangement with his daughter.

McEvoy condemned this treatment as utterly unacceptable, especially for those who have served the nation.

"He already has mental health challenges, and his elderly mother has offered to take him in, but she lives in a small bungalow, and fears that that might jeopardise the agreement that gives him shared custody of his daughter. That is a wholly unacceptable way for anyone to be treated, let alone those who have served our country. The Bill will help this family. Banning section 21 no-fault evictions would give him more security."

Over 100,000 households have faced a no-fault eviction since 2019, with 26,000 occurring in the past year alone.

During a House of Commons debate, MPs heard about another Darlington resident who had been negatively affected by the current legislation. "She had paid her deposit and paid her rent on time every month, yet she was not given a legal tenancy," Ms McEvoy explained.

"She knew she was vulnerable, but had nowhere to turn. The Bill will give her the right to contact, for free, a new private rented sector ombudsman, who will help her to sort out her situation."

Measures will also be introduced to abolish fixed-term tenancies, prevent sudden rent hikes, ban bidding wars for properties, and stop landlords and letting agents from demanding large deposits. The proposed law will offer renters one year of protection at the start of a tenancy, during which landlords cannot evict to move in or sell the property, and would extend notice periods for various grounds for possession from two months to four months.

It is also anticipated to grant local councils more power to tackle rogue landlords and give tenants the right to request to keep a pet, with landlords unable to unreasonably refuse. Despite the concerns, Darlington’s Lola McEvoy also praised the majority of landlords, " who do right by their tenants".

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