New proposals have been published by the Law Commission which are aimed at making renting homes cheaper and easier to accomplish.The proposals centre on a revision of the standard types of lease arrangement, so that residential leases are dealt with by way of ‘occupation contracts’ for ‘secure’ or ‘standard’ leases. The thinking is that the use of such contracts will make the respective rights and obligations of the landlord and tenant clearer. Landlords will be free to use their own form of contract provided certain key elements are included.
The proposals include considerable changes to the current procedures for termination of residential leases. Possession proceedings will no longer be able to be commenced until one month after the ‘contract-holder’ has been given notice. One important change is the proposed abolition of the minimum requirement for assured shorthold tenancies that they last 6 months or more. However, serious arrears of rent will be a mandatory ground for the granting of a possession order.
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