When I first arrived in England, I had the pleasure of going back in time to see where a great literary mind called home. I visited William Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon and toured his childhood home with my Fulbright cohort. I was able to gather a real sense of the way he and his family lived through a guided tour. I was told it was very common for two or more generations of family to live under the same roof during Shakespeare’s time. This experience made me think about the ways housing has changed from the late 16th/early 17th century until now.
Today, a new law called the Renters’ Rights Bill took effect in the United Kingdom. This new rule gives people who rent homes more power and protection. Furthermore, the law makes renting fairer and safer for millions of families.
According to the BBC News’ article “Renters’ Rights Act: Here's What It Means for You” by Tara Welsh, Tara Mewawalla and Jemma Crew, the Renters’ Rights Bill ends “no-fault” evictions. Before this law, landlords could ask renters to move out even when the renters had done nothing wrong. Now, landlords must have a clear reason, such as not paying rent or damaging the property.
