Neighbouring Central Bedfordshire Council has warned that major new renters’ rights reforms could trigger a short-term rise in homelessness and reduce the supply of private rented homes – while Bedford Borough Council has yet to say whether it expects similar pressures locally.

The Bedford authority had not responded by the time of publication to questions about the likely local impact of the Renters’ Rights Act – despite previously warning the changes would place significant new burdens on councils.

The Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on May 1 and will abolish Section 21 no fault evictions, limit rent increases to once a year, ban rental bidding and introduce wider protections for tenants.

On March 30, Bedford Borough Council was asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) whether it had seen any recent increase in approaches linked to private sector evictions, how many households were currently in temporary accommodation, whether it anticipated any short-term impact on homelessness presentations, and what effect it expected the Act to have locally in both the short and longer term.

placeholder image — The Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on May 1 and will abolish Section 21 no fault evictions, limit rent increases to once a year, ban rental bidding and introduce wider protections for tenants

It had not responded at the time of publication.

Central Beds Council warns that major new renters’ rights reforms could trigger ...

The council’s Housing Committee was told in January that the legislation would place “significant new regulatory and enforcement responsibilities on councils”.

A report to members said: “The Act places significant new regulatory and enforcement responsibilities on councils.

“These responsibilities cannot be solely met through existing staffing and funding provision.”

During the same meeting, a member of the public said there was an “unprecedented” level of applications to the housing register.

“Why is this the case when it’s part of the council’s duties to plan for the future,” they asked.

Anna Robbani, head of housing, homelessness, and customer services at Bedford Borough Council, said “Our housing and homelessness strategy aims to increase supply and affordable housing through partnerships with registered providers as an updated allocation scheme.”

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government adviser told the committee that Bedford Borough Council needed to improve homelessness prevention, saying: “We need to get in the prevention space.”