Renters’ Rights Act 2025

Prospective

Section 73

Schedule 3 E+W Amendments connected with landlord redress schemes

Local Government Act 1974 E+W

1 The Local Government Act 1974 is amended in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 5.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 3 para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

2 (1) Section 33 (consultation between Local Commissioner and other Commissioners and Ombudsmen) is amended as follows.

(2) In the heading, for the words from “Local Commissioner” to the end substitute “Local Commissioner and other appropriate persons”.

(3) In subsection (1)—

(a) for the words from “subject of an investigation” to “about the matter and,” substitute “subject of a relevant investigation, the Local Commissioner shall consult with the appropriate person about the matter and,”;

(b) for the words from “initiate a complaint” to the end substitute “initiate a relevant complaint in relation to which the person consulted would be the appropriate person”.

(4) In subsection (2)—

(a) for the words from “the Parliamentary Commissioner” to “in relation to” substitute “an appropriate person in relation to”;

(b) for the words from “consult” to “about” substitute “consult that person about”.

(5) In subsection (3)—

(a) for the words from “conducting an investigation” to “the complaint relates” substitute “conducting a relevant investigation, the appropriate person forms the opinion that the complaint to which the investigation relates also relates”;

(b) for “he”, in both places it occurs, substitute “the appropriate person”.

(6) After subsection (3) insert—

“(3ZA) Subsection (3) does not apply in relation to any of the following relevant investigations—

(a) an investigation by the Health Service Commissioner for England in accordance with the Act of 1993;

(b) an investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in accordance with the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005;

(c) an investigation by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in accordance with the Act of 2002.”

(7) Omit subsections (3A) to (3C).

(8) In subsection (4), for the words from “subsection (3)” to “subsection (2)”, substitute “subsection (3), a Local Commissioner is consulted about a relevant complaint, subsection (2)”.

(9) After subsection (5) insert—

“(5A) In this section—

(a) “relevant investigation” means an investigation specified in column 1 of the table;

(b) “relevant complaint” means a complaint specified in column 2 of the table;

(c) “appropriate person”—

(i) in relation to a relevant investigation, means the person in column 3 of the table in the row in which the investigation is specified;

(ii) in relation to a relevant complaint, means the person in column 3 of the table in the row in which the complaint is specified.

1	2	3
Relevant investigations	Relevant complaints	Appropriate persons
An investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner in accordance with section 5 of the Act of 1967	A complaint under the Act of 1967	The Parliamentary Commissioner
An investigation by the Health Service Commissioner for England in accordance with the Act of 1993	A complaint under the Act of 1993	The Health Service Commissioner for England
An investigation by a housing ombudsman under the Housing Act 1996	A complaint under the Housing Act 1996	The housing ombudsman
An investigation by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in accordance with the Act of 2002	A complaint under the Act of 2002	The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
An investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in accordance with the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005	A complaint under the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005	The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
An investigation by the new homes ombudsman under the new homes ombudsman scheme (see section 136 of the Building Safety Act 2022)	A complaint under the new homes ombudsman scheme	The new homes ombudsman
An investigation under a leasehold and estate management redress scheme (see section 100 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024)	A complaint under a leasehold and estate management redress scheme	The person responsible for overseeing and monitoring the investigation and determination of complaints under the scheme
An investigation under a landlord redress scheme (see section 64 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025)	A complaint under a landlord redress scheme	The person responsible for overseeing and monitoring the investigation and determination of complaints under the scheme”

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 3 para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

3 (1) Section 33ZA (collaborative working between Local Commissioners and others) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), for the words from “jurisdiction of” to the end substitute “jurisdiction of an appropriate person, the Local Commissioner may, subject to subsection (2) below, conduct an investigation under this Part jointly with that appropriate person and any other appropriate person who, in the opinion of the Local Commissioner, has jurisdiction in relation to the matters which are the subject of the Local Commissioner’s investigation.”

(3) Omit subsections (1A) and (1B).

(4) In subsection (3), for the words from “investigated by” to the end substitute “investigated by an appropriate person relates partly to a matter within the Local Commissioner’s jurisdiction by virtue of this Part, the Local Commissioner may conduct an investigation under this Part jointly with that appropriate person and any other appropriate person who is also investigating the complaint.”

(5) After subsection (5) insert—

“(6) For the purposes of this section—

(a) “appropriate person” means any of the following—

(i) the Parliamentary Commissioner;

(ii) the Health Service Commissioner for England;

(iii) a housing ombudsman;

(iv) the new homes ombudsman;

(v) an individual who investigates complaints under a redress scheme;

(b) “redress scheme” means—

(i) a leasehold and estate management redress scheme;

(ii) a landlord redress scheme;

(c) a matter is within the jurisdiction of an individual who investigates complaints under a redress scheme if it is a matter which could be the subject of an investigation under that scheme.”

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 3 para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

4 In section 33ZB (arrangements for provision of administrative and other services), for subsection (4) substitute—

“(4) The persons within this subsection are—

• the Commission;

• the Parliamentary Commissioner;

• the Health Service Commissioner for England;

• the person administering a scheme approved under Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1996 (scheme for enabling complaints to be investigated by a housing ombudsman);

• the new homes ombudsman;

• the person maintaining the new homes ombudsman scheme under arrangements made pursuant to section 136 of the Building Safety Act 2022;

• the administrator of a leasehold and estate management redress scheme;

• the administrator of a landlord redress scheme.”

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 3 para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

5 In section 34 (interpretation), in subsection (1), at the appropriate places insert—

• ““head of landlord redress”, in relation to a landlord redress scheme, means the person responsible for overseeing and monitoring the investigation and determination of complaints under the scheme;”

• ““landlord redress scheme” has the meaning given by section 64(2) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025;”.

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. 3 para. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

Housing Act 1996 E+W

6 (1) Paragraph 10A of Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1996 (housing complaints: collaborative working with Local Commissioners) is amended as follows.

(2) In the heading above that paragraph, for “Local Commissioners” substitute “other appropriate persons”.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1), for the words from “a Local Commissioner” to the end substitute “an appropriate person, the housing ombudsman may, subject to sub-paragraph (2), conduct an investigation under this Act jointly with that person and any other appropriate person the housing ombudsman considers has jurisdiction.”

(4) Omit sub-paragraph (1A).

(5) In sub-paragraph (3), for the words from “a Local Commissioner” to the end substitute “an appropriate person relates partly to a matter within the jurisdiction of the housing ombudsman, the housing ombudsman may conduct an investigation jointly with that person and any other appropriate person investigating the complaint.”

(6) In sub-paragraph (4), for the words from “investigation jointly with” to the end substitute “investigation jointly with one or more appropriate persons, the requirements of paragraph 7 may be satisfied by a report made jointly with those persons.”

(7) For sub-paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6) For the purposes of this paragraph—

(a) “appropriate person” means any of the following—

(i) a Local Commissioner;

(ii) the new homes ombudsman;

(iii) an individual who investigates complaints under a redress scheme;

(b) “redress scheme” means—

(i) a redress scheme within the meaning of section 100(4) of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (leasehold and estate management redress schemes);

(ii) a landlord redress scheme within the meaning of section 64(2) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025;

(c) a matter is within the jurisdiction of an individual who investigates complaints under a redress scheme if it is a matter which could be the subject of an investigation under that scheme.”

Commencement Information

I6 Sch. 3 para. 6 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

Government of Wales Act 1998 E+W

7 In paragraph 17 of Schedule 12 to the Government of Wales Act 1998 (minor and consequential amendments), omit sub-paragraphs (2) and (3).

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. 3 para. 7 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 E+W

8 In paragraph 15 of Schedule 6 to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 (consequential amendments)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (2), omit paragraphs (c) and (e);

(b) omit sub-paragraph (3).

Commencement Information

I8 Sch. 3 para. 8 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

Localism Act 2011 E+W

9 In section 182 of the Localism Act 2011 (transfer of functions to housing ombudsman), omit subsections (2) to (6).

Commencement Information

I9 Sch. 3 para. 9 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

Building Safety Act 2022 E+W

10 The Building Safety Act 2022 is amended in accordance with paragraphs 11 and 12.

Commencement Information

I10 Sch. 3 para. 10 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

11 In Schedule 3 (cooperation and information sharing), in paragraph 3, for sub-paragraph (5) substitute—

“(5) “Relevant scheme” means any of the following—

• a scheme approved under Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1996 (housing complaints: social landlords);

• a redress scheme to which persons are required by virtue of section 83 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (lettings agency work) to be members;

• a redress scheme to which persons are required by virtue of section 84 of that Act (property management work) to be members;

• the new homes ombudsman scheme;

• a redress scheme within the meaning of section 100(4) of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (leasehold and estate management redress schemes);

• a landlord redress scheme within the meaning of section 64(2) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.”

Commencement Information

I11 Sch. 3 para. 11 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

12 In Schedule 10 (amendments in connection with new homes ombudsman), omit paragraphs 1 to 5.

Commencement Information

I12 Sch. 3 para. 12 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)

Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 E+W

13 In Schedule 13 to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (amendments in connection with leasehold and estate management redress schemes), omit paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.

Commencement Information

I13 Sch. 3 para. 13 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 145(1)(7)