Today, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities released the “A Fairer Private Rented Sector” white paper which our readers can find and read in full here. For those that are perhaps less familiar with white papers, they are policy documents produced by the government intended to set out proposals and future legislation. This document is a good indication of the changes which the government intends to debate and consider in the coming months.

The white paper has already made headlines due to the significant reforms and changes that it proposes to the private rental sector. The paper is some 86 pages but the key proposals include:

1. Abolishing of section 21 notices and reform to the grounds of possession
2. Restriction on rent increases and an end to the use of rent review clauses
3. A new digital property portal to help landlords understand their legal requirements
4. A ban on “no DSS” practices
5. A new ombudsman covering all private landlords
6. Changes for those renting with pets
7. Introduction and ability to passport deposits

Whether you are a tenant, a professional landlord or investor, or indeed a landlord that has just one property in their portfolio, this is something to keep an eye on as the measures in this white paper will form part of the Renters Reform Bill. We will be providing further commentary on the proposed changes over the coming months.