New rights for renters as promised

Dear resident

If you are one of the nearly two in five people in Chelsea and Fulham who rents privately or the more than one in five who lives in social housing, this week marks a turning point.

Because “Awaab’s Law” came into force. And the King gave Royal Assent to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Awaab’s Law is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died from exposure to mould in his flat. It means landlords will have to fix hazards such as damp and mould within strict time limits. It will apply to social housing now and private housing from next year.

And from 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act will protect renters in lots of new ways:

• Ending Section 21 “no-fault evictions”, giving more security and longer notice periods

• Outlawing rental bidding wars that drive up prices

• Stopping landlords from demanding more than one month’s rent upfront

• Replacing all fixed-term contracts with “rolling” tenancies

• Giving tenants the right to request a pet.

Thanks to these reforms, families will be able to plan their futures without a constant fear of eviction. Children can stay in the same schools and people can put down long-term roots.

This summer, a disabled constituent of mine faced a Section 21 eviction after renting privately in Fulham for five years. I won him temporary accommodation from the council, but this shouldn’t be how our system treats people – and it won’t be in the future.

I’ve helped dozens of residents in Chelsea and Fulham with damp and mould problems secure urgent repairs and compensation. The new law will make that fight fairer and faster.

I am proud that Labour has delivered in fifteen months what the Conservatives failed to do in fourteen years.

As your MP, I’ll keep fighting for decent, secure and affordable housing for everyone in Chelsea and Fulham. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if I can help you in any way.

 

Best wishes

 

Ben Coleman
Member of Parliament for Chelsea and Fulham

 

PS For more details of the Renters’ Rights Act, please see this helpful explanation from Shelter here.