The National Residential Landlords Association has asked the government to give a clear timespan of when the Renters’ Rights Bill comes into force.
As it stands, the government has said it will give the sector “as much notice as possible” about when the Bill will be implemented.
The major talking point in the new regulations is the abolition of Section 21 evictions, where landlords don’t have to give a reason why they are evicting their tenant.
The bill is not due to be scrutinised in the House of Lords until after Easter.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “The lack of clarity is causing needless uncertainty for both landlords and tenants. It is damaging the rental market at a time when there is already a chronic shortage of homes to rent.
“Given the extent of the changes, at least six months will be needed to ensure a smooth transition to the new tenancy system. Anything less will be a recipe for confusion and chaos.
“The idea that such sweeping changes could be made overnight is, at best, wishful thinking.”
Almost five million households will be affected by the bill’s removal of fixed term tenancies, illustrating the scale of the challenge facing the private rented sector.
The NRLA warned that a minimum of six months from the point at which regulations are published will be needed to ensure that landlords, tenants, and the businesses which support them are adequately prepared for these reforms.
Changes needed to ensure the smooth implementation of the system replacing Section 21 include: Equipping landlords, agents and legal professionals with guidance and training to manage the transition effectively; adjusting policies and rates across insurance and mortgage providers; adapting court procedures to prepare for an increase of in-person hearings; and training letting agents and updating their internal processes and IT systems.
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