Thousands of renters across West Cumbria will benefit from the biggest strengthening of renters’ rights in over 40 years, as the Government’s landmark Renters’ Rights Act comes into force.
Across our area these changes will bring greater security and stability to local families who rent their homes.
The new law delivers long-awaited reforms to make renting fairer, safer and more secure, including a ban on Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, meaning landlords can no longer evict tenants without a valid reason.
Renters will also benefit from limits on rent increases, an end to bidding wars, new rights to request a pet, stronger protections against discrimination, and greater flexibility with rolling tenancies – helping people put down roots in their communities with confidence.
Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, said:
“For too long, too many renters in West Cumbria have lived with the constant worry that they could be asked to leave their home with little notice and no good reason.
I’ve heard directly from local residents about the stress and uncertainty that creates – especially for families trying to build a life here.
“We saw what happened at the Slipway apartments in Whitehaven, where residents were forced out after the building was bought by a developer looking to convert the flats into short-term lets for contract workers.
“People who had made their lives there were suddenly uprooted through no fault of their own. That simply isn’t right, and it’s exactly the kind of situation these new laws are designed to prevent.
“It’s disappointing that Conservative and Reform MPs voted against these plans. At a time when renters needed stronger protections, I believe we should be coming together to fix a system that hasn’t been working for too many people.”
Under the new legislation, landlords must now provide a clear and legitimate reason for ending a tenancy, helping to prevent sudden displacement and giving renters greater security.
Josh MacAlister MP 