The long-awaited legislation to improve renters’ rights has finally been published.

The Renters (Reform) Bill (assuming it is passed in Parliament) would abolish what is known as Section 21 effectively preventing no-fault evictions it will also end bans on tenants claiming benefits.

Under the new rules a tenancy will only end if the tenant ends it or if the landlord has a valid ground for possession.

The proposed abolition of Section 21 goes back to 2019 when the prime minister at that time Theresa May, promised to scrap it. Her successor Boris Johnson then pledged in his party’s general election manifesto “a better deal for renters”, and this included the ‘no fault’ eviction ban.

Since then, successive Prime Ministers and housing ministers have come in for criticism for not progressing the bill quickly enough.

Under the new law, tenants would also be given the legal right to request a pet in their home, which the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse.

It would also prevent landlord refusing tenancies to families with children.

However, the bill should make it easier for landlords to repossess properties from anti-social tenants and those who repeatedly miss rent payments.

Housing campaigners have hailed the bill a huge opportunity to improve the lives of millions of renters in England.

However, the bill has come in for criticism too, notably from several Conservative MPs, on the grounds that it could force more landlords to leave the market and reduce the supply of rental properties – already a significant issue.

Commenting on the bill National Residential Landlords Association chief executive Ben Beadle says: “Responsible landlords need to be confident that when Section 21 ends, where they have a legitimate reason, they will be able to repossess their properties as quickly as possible. Without this assurance, the bill will only exacerbate the rental housing supply crisis many tenants now face.

He adds: “Ministers must develop a plan to improve the speed and efficiency with which the courts process possession claims. Although the government has accepted NRLA calls to digitise cases, staff numbers need to increase in the court system as well to meet the needs of these reforms”.

Beadle insists the government must recognise the serious concerns of landlords letting to students about open-ended tenancies. He argues that without the ability to plan around the academic year, students will have no certainty that properties will be available to rent when they need them.

He concludes: “We will continue to work with the government, MPs and peers to ensure the bill is workable and fair to both responsible landlords and tenants.”