Ending 'no fault' evictions and the Renters' Rights Bill: lessons from Scotland

One of the casualties of the recent UK general election was a bill that would have changed the law regulating privately rented homes in Great Britain. The Renters Reform Bill contained a key feature that was a fulfilment of the then Conservative government’s election manifesto, namely to end so-called ‘no fault’ evictions. The new Labour government has now been left to pick up the mantle. The first King’s speech since the election makes clear that they will do just that, via a new Renters’ Rights Bill. The experience of Scotland could be instructive for this exercise, given that Scots law recently changed to do away with ‘no fault’ evictions for most new private rentals of a home. This piece comments on what this change in the law might mean for tenants and landlords.