When can landlords increase rent? Can I get a cat? Your questions answered on renters’ rights changes

Tarah Welsh, Larissa Tairo, Naresh Puri and Alastair Reid
BBC News

Rongmala became an “accidental” landlord when her disabilities meant she could no longer live alone.

She moved in with her children and rented out her south London maisonette.

But last year, her tenant stopped paying rent.

Rongmala, 57, eventually sent an eviction notice and began court proceedings, but several months later the tenant is around £15,000 in rent arrears and refusing to leave.

Court delays are holding up the removal of the tenant, leaving Rongmala feeling “broken”.

Although a judge awarded a court order for her to take possession of the property, only court-appointed bailiffs can remove a tenant. The family has been told this could take up to 11 months.

Rongmala’s son, Marouf, says the toll it is taking on his mum is “heartbreaking”.

Groups representing landlords say property owners like Rongmala will become increasingly reliant on the courts to handle repossession claims now the new law has come into force, and warn the government has not done enough to relieve pressure on the system.

Read more about Rongmala’s story in the full piece.