Labour to make enormous change banning ‘heartbreaking’ observe by grasping landlords

Heartless landlords will be barred from pursuing grieving friends and relatives of tenants who have died for thousands of pounds in rent, in a new boost for renters rights.

MPs are set to vote through Labour ’s Renters Rights bill on Tuesday, banning no-fault evictions and demanding landlords fix serious health hazards like damp and mould.

But more measures are also expected to be added to the bill in the Commons, including one preventing guarantors of tenants who have died being chased for excessive amounts of future rent.

“It breaks my heart to think that there are grieving families out there being heartlessly pursued for rent payments by landlords who are aware of the sad circumstances,” Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

One case, raised in the Commons by Labour’s Helen Hayes last year, saw a first year university student, who had taken on a private tenancy agreement for a property for the following year, take their own life.

The letting agents forced the family as the guarantor to pay the costs for the remainder of the tenancy.

Ms Rayner added: “This cannot and will not be allowed to happen any longer and we will make sure these families are not saddled with unnecessary and extra rent payments in such tragic circumstances.

“The return of our landmark Renters’ Rights Bill this week will right this wrong and also give working families greater security in their homes while transforming the rights for millions of renters across the country.”

A change in law would mean guarantors, including families experiencing financial hardship are not liable for extended periods of rent when trying to end the tenancy agreement in unforeseen and tragic circumstances.

In the case of joint tenancies, family members of the deceased will also no linger be liable for rent under the new changes.