Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities) introduced the Renters Rights Bill report and discussed:

a)     The Renters’ Rights Bill represented a major reform of the private rented sector, replacing the previous Renters Reform Bill with only minor wording changes;

b)    The Bill was structured in four parts, with Parts 1 and 4 expected to be implemented first within six months to two years, and Parts 2 and 3 phased in over up to ten years;

c)     Key changes included tenancy reform, abolition of Section 21 evictions, introduction of rent controls, a ban on rental bidding, protection against discriminatory practices, and new grounds for possession that were fairer for all parties;

d)    Enhanced enforcement powers for local authorities were proposed, including civil penalties of up to £7,000 for minor offences and up to £40,000 for serious or repeat non-compliance;

e)     The Bill would introduce a new private rented sector database and landlord ombudsman, extend the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law to the private sector, and set clear expectations for property safety and quality;

f)      Plymouth City Council had taken a proactive approach, completing a legislative gap analysis, mapping stakeholders, reviewing policies, and establishing a Strategic Programme Lead post to coordinate delivery;

g)     The Council was participating in national and regional workshops, including co-chairing the South West Operational Delivery Forum (Operation Jigsaw), and had begun pilot testing IT systems and developing training programmes;

h)    Challenges remained, including staffing levels falling short of what would be required, uncertainty around new burdens funding, and potential IT system upgrades to meet future reporting requirements;

i)      Despite these pressures, the Council was committed to delivering a robust, fair, and effective implementation that protected tenants, supported responsible landlords, and strengthened public confidence in enforcement;

j)      Good landlords should have nothing to fear from enforcement, but criminal landlords would face tougher action under the new powers.

David Irving (Strategic Programme Lead, Housing Standards) added:

k)     The Bill was already having an impact on the market, with landlords reacting to anticipated changes despite not knowing all details;

l)      National figures indicated that approximately 19% of private rented sector landlords were selling up and leaving the market, which could affect Plymouth, although good landlords were expected to remain.

In response to questions, the Panel discussed:

m)   Support for provisions allowing tenants to request permission to keep pets, noting the positive impact on wellbeing and the importance for those who had experienced long-term homelessness, where pets were often key companions;

n)    The wider implications of pet ownership rights, which would extend beyond the private rented sector to affordable housing, affecting over half of Plymouth’s population;

o)    Timeframes for implementation, with Royal Assent potentially within two to three weeks if parliamentary sticking points were resolved, followed by a six-month window before enforcement duties commenced;

p)    The database was expected to be operational approximately two years after Royal Assent, with preparatory work already underway, including pilot registration of landlords and engagement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on communications;

q)    The Council anticipated incremental updates to policies such as HMO licensing, electrical safety, and civil penalties, with executive decisions likely within the next month to enable readiness;

r)     The importance of minimising the risk of judicial review during implementation and the Council’s involvement in national pilots to gain early experience;

s)     The commitment to keep members informed through email updates and briefings, with further scrutiny if major new policies were required.

The Panel agreed:

1. To note the report and the proactive steps taken to prepare for implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill;

2. To receive ongoing updates on progress, including any significant policy changes or implications for enforcement.