PROHIBITING RENTAL DISCRIMINATION
The Renters’ Rights Bill will take direct action to address rental discrimination practices in the private rented sector. It will address both overt discriminatory practices, such as ‘No DSS’ and ‘No Children’ adverts and situations where landlords or agents use other indirect practices in order to prevent someone entering into a tenancy. Landlords and agents will continue to have the final say on who they let their property to and can carry out referencing checks to make sure tenancies are sustainable for all parties. They will be able to do this based on affordability, but not on the basis the prospective tenant has children or is in receipt of benefits. All prospective tenants should be considered on an individual basis.
RENTAL BIDDING
The Renters Rights Bill introduces a prohibition on rental bidding , a practice where prospective tenants compete by offering higher-than-advertised rents to secure a property. Under this new rule, landlords and letting agents will be required to adhere strictly to the advertised rent price, preventing any bidding or price escalation that could disadvantage lower-income renters and drive up market rates unfairly. The legislation mandates that once a property is listed with a specified rental price, that price must remain consistent for all prospective tenants. Landlords and agents will be prohibited from soliciting or accepting offers above this listed amount. This rule applies throughout the application process, meaning that any tenant who meets the application criteria must be considered equally, without being outbid by others offering to pay more. Local authorities will have the power to enforce this prohibition, and landlords or agents who attempt to encourage or accept rental bidding could face fines or penalties. For landlords and agents, this will mean a shift toward equitable practices in tenant selection and a clearer, more consistent rental application process.
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