Do you have geographic or other ties to the program? For example, do you have family or close friends in the area? Do you have colleagues who graduated from the program where you are applying? Great! This is where you would mention them.
This applies even if you are applying for medical residency and are specifying geographic and other preferences in your ERAS Application .
For each of your top-choice program(s), write a different version of your conclusion. Tailor it to each program.
Then group all the other programs by common features (e.g., geography). Make sure to be as specific as possible when doing so. Then tailor a different version of your conclusion for each group of programs.
Have you accomplished the above three points? Great! All that's left is to state what you offer to the program.
This is actually quite easy. Start by identifying the themes you have written in your personal statement. Check your introduction and each body paragraph. Then list these themes, in keyword form, as what you offer to the program.
In this way, you accomplish two goals. First is to wrap up your personal statement's main points. Second is to provide a forward-looking statement as you bring it to an end.
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Good personal statement openings are crucial when it comes to engaging admissions tutors.
But in the process of writing your personal statement, you might realise that you’re repeating the words you use in your opening sentences and paragraphs.
This lack of variety can lead to a sense of monotony in tone and content, alienating the reader.
But don’t worry!
There are several sentence starters you can use that won’t leave your personal statement sounding stilted or unnatural and that will help your personal statement stand out.
Here’s an expert guide to using effective sentence starters to improve your personal statement…
Personal statement sentence starters fall into three specific categories. Introductions, comparisons and conclusions are effective ways to start paragraphs. Use connections, additions and relationships when developing content. Starters relating to the presentation of ideas work well throughout.
From sixth-form personal statement sentence starters to postgraduate applications, you’ll discover specific examples of each of these personal statement sentence starter categories in the sections below…
Having a practical understanding of personal statement sentence starters in this category is extremely valuable if you want to achieve greater variety and originality in your writing.
Introducing a new point or topic can become repetitive quickly; how many times have you written “I also” or “as a result”?
Avoiding these common phrases can add depth to your statement, but also encourage the reader to view you as an informed and versatile candidate.
As Mary Curnock Cook, a former UCAS Chief Executive states:
“The personal statement is supposed to be personal. Learning to write about yourself in a compelling way is a vital skill when applying for jobs; using hackneyed phrases is not the best way to stand out.” Mary Curnock Cook
Have you ever felt the need to write the kind of overused opening sentences that start with “At a young age..?”
If so, here are some introductory personal statement openings that will add to the compelling quality of your writing, without making it sound as though you’ve plucked words from a dictionary:
The definition of… | It is thought that… | My experience of… | I justified my… |
The key aspects… | It has always… | Engaging with… | Having analysed… |
The central theme… | I have researched… | In advance of… | My understanding of… |
If you can make good use of comparative sentence starters , your writing will be increasingly concise, your points will be made with greater precision and you will be more likely to meet the word or character limit.
Here are some effective examples:
Similarly… | Conversely… | However… | In opposition to… |
While this is the case… | In response I… | When set against… | As a reaction to… |
In contrast to… | My previous experience… | By comparison… | Although the… |
What follows are some excellent ways in which to start a concluding sentence or paragraph.
Remember that your aim is not to repeat previous content, but to use the opportunity to lead into the next paragraph or topic:
It has been proven that… | Applying my practical experience… | I believe that this research… | The values of… |
As a consequence… | My volunteering experience has… | My high level of engagement in… | It is my ambition to… |
This experience illustrated… | In conclusion… | As a committed student… | Having successfully… |
Once you’ve begun writing about a specific point or topic, you’ll find you need to connect one idea with another in order to make a concise or compelling point.
This connection can be challenging, as very quickly you might start to use a limited range of vocabulary such as “also” or “along with” or “as well as”.
These are the kinds of words that applicants use frequently, and they can indicate a lack of breadth, vocabulary or research in the mind of an admissions tutor.
Unoriginal vocabulary can also lead to your personal statement being rejected, or even to your entire application being refused, in the case of plagiarism.
According to Carly Minsky at timeshighereducation.com these are some of the most overused phrases featured in UCAS personal statements , so do make sure you don’t repeat them.
Below are some excellent suggestions for connecting or adding phrases, concepts or ideas in your personal statement:
Specifically… | As an example… | Subsequently… | In opposition to… |
To illustrate… | Of equal importance to… | To elaborate… | As a response to… |
In addition to… | Furthermore… | By definition… | To counter this I… |
By definition… | Equally… | Inspired by… | To compliment my… |
It can be vitally important to effectively illustrate the relationship between an experience or piece of knowledge that you hold and the demands of the course or role that you are applying for.
The focus of the reader needs to be on the content itself , not the words you use to compare or contrast it, and these personal statement sentence starters will help you achieve this, every time:
The evidence suggests… | The correlation between… | This outcome shows that… | This research demonstrates my… |
Considering this approach… | The effect of my… | Both experiences emphasise my… | The outcome of this internship… |
It is apparent that… | The combined results of my… | The links I have developed between… | This qualification supports my… |
Now you’re feeling more confident about your vocabulary, you should get to grips with the right structure to use for your personal statement.
My Personal Statement Template eBook gives you 10 original templates to follow when you’re writing a personal statement, meaning you’re guaranteed to find the right structure for your application.
It’s packed full of useful advice and shows you exactly what content to include. You’ll also discover how many words or characters to use for each paragraph for maximum effect!
Perfect for UCAS undergraduate applications, Oxbridge and Medicine , master’s degrees and employment , my eBook also includes exclusive guidance for writing a perfect statement of purpose .
Click on the image below to discover how my eBook can help you write the perfect personal statement…
An important aspect of your personal statement is the presentation of new ideas and concepts that illustrate your understanding of the course topic.
You should also show that you can synthesise aspects of your prior experience and knowledge.
This can be a complex process to write about, so having dynamic and effective vocabulary to work with can be extremely valuable.
The table below gives you a selection of examples of the kinds of sentence starters you could use to introduce a new concept in a personal statement opening sentence:
Seldom have I been… | The majority of… | As identified by… | Similarly, I… |
I have further… | It is often presumed… | I challenged this by… | To better prepare for this application… |
Having been inspired by… | Prior to my… | According to… | Additional research has revealed… |
It’s worth noting that, generally speaking, new ideas and concepts should be contained within a specific paragraph. If you’re looking for advice on how to structure the paragraphs in your personal statement, check out my article here.
You may have noticed that I haven’t included a section in this post devoted to the kinds of sentence starters you shouldn’t use in your personal statement.
That’s because each personal statement is unique, and good sentence openers need to focus on different aspects of your experiences and ambitions. Try not to think about avoiding specific words or phrases and focus more on including content that best represents your ambitions!
If you really want some pointers on what not to include, Amy Davies has a great article on words you should never use in your personal statement over at whatuni.com .
If you want to focus on writing an amazing opening paragraph, then check out my post that tells you exactly how great first paragraphs are created!
If you’re just starting out, then this is the post for you…
Good luck with your personal statement, and don’t forget to contact me if you’d like some 1-1 support.
You’ve got this! D
Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet .
David Hallen
I've worked in the Further Education and University Admissions sector for nearly 20 years as a teacher, department head, Head of Sixth Form, UCAS Admissions Advisor, UK Centre Lead and freelance personal statement advisor, editor and writer. And now I'm here for you...
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Whether applying for a summer internship, a professional development opportunity, such as a Fulbright, an executive MBA program, or a senior leadership development course, a personal statement threads the ideas of your CV, and is longer and has a different tone and purpose than a traditional cover letter. A few adjustments to your personal statement can get your application noticed by the reviewer.
At multiple points in your life, you will need to take action to transition from where you are to where you want to be. This process is layered and time-consuming, and getting yourself to stand out among the masses is an arduous but not impossible task. Having a polished resume that explains what you’ve done is the common first step. But, when an application asks for it, a personal statement can add color and depth to your list of accomplishments. It moves you from a one-dimensional indistinguishable candidate to someone with drive, interest, and nuance.
In the competitive landscape of graduate school admissions, your graduate school personal statement serves as your unique voice and an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants and showcase your potential as a future social worker. For many schools of social work, the personal statement replaces an interview. This document not only outlines your academic achievements, but also provides insights into your personal and professional journey, aspirations, and suitability for the program. To help you navigate this important part of your application, this post provides recommendations on how to structure your personal statement. It is important to note that these recommendations serve as a guide, as each school will have their own personal statement requirements.
As mentioned, although the structure of personal statements will generally be similar across schools, each school will have specific requirements and admission questions. Before diving into writing your personal statement, it is important to thoroughly understand the admission requirements of the social work program(s) you are applying to. Take note of any specific prompts, word limits, formatting guidelines, and deadlines. Familiarize yourself with the program's values, mission, and expectations of prospective students. Tailoring your personal statement to align with these requirements demonstrates your attention to detail and genuine interest in the program.
The introduction sets the tone for your personal statement and should captivate the reader's attention from the beginning. Your opening should be engaging, authentic, and reflective of your passion and commitment to the social work field. It is important to make your introduction paragraph unique to you. Avoid generalized statements such as, “I am applying to the MSW program because I want to help people”. It is likely that every applicant has that same goal and it doesn’t tell the reader much about you, so be specific about your interests. Given that this is an introduction, you do not need to go into a lot of detail, but including unique characteristics about yourself that would make you a good fit for the program and naming your specific area of interest can draw the reader in.
Get a copy of our FREE MSW Personal Statement Template here.
Many schools of social work will ask questions about your personal and professional experiences. Some schools may ask how these experiences influenced your decision to be a social worker and apply to the program. This is an opportunity to showcase your academic and professional journey in a way that highlights your unique experiences, skills, and accomplishments. Reflect on insights gained, challenges overcome, and significant achievements that have shaped your academic and career aspirations. Many schools of social work are quite flexible regarding the types of experiences you draw from. If you do not have professional experiences in the social service field, you can discuss your other employment/volunteer experiences and the transferrable skills that can be applied to social work. When discussing personal experiences, it is important to not “trauma dump” in your personal statement. Instead, briefly name these experiences and relate them back to the initial prompt. If the school is asking how these experiences motivated you to apply to the MSW program, you can discuss how these personal experiences influenced your decision and what skills and insights you gained from these experiences that can support you in the program and as a social worker.
Social justice lies at the heart of social work practice. Therefore, many schools of social work will ask about a social justice issue you hope to address as an MSW-level social worker. Your personal statement is an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to addressing societal inequities and injustices. It is important to be specific about your area of interest. What is the social justice issue? Who is the specific demographic you hope to work with? What is the role of social workers in addressing this issue? What is unique about social work compared to other professions that can be valuable in addressing the issue? When schools are asking about a social justice issue you hope to address, they are looking to see why MSW-level social workers are needed in this area. It is important to discuss why you need this program in order to address this issue. This is also a good opportunity to highlight your academic writing ability and critical thinking skills. In the program, you will likely write several academic papers, and the admissions committee wants to see that you have the skills to critically think about an issue and provide an analysis. This can be done by integrating literature on the topic to support your thoughts and demonstrate the significance of the issue. To help with the flow of your personal statement, it is valuable to focus on an issue that relates to your future career goals and current personal and professional experiences.
Register for our FREE WEBINAR: How to write a compelling MSW Personal Statement
Graduate school can be demanding, both academically and personally. Schools of social work are aware of this and want to see that as a student, you can meet the demands of the program, while also supporting your well-being. This does not mean that you are expected to present as a perfect student, but they want to see that you have the skills and resiliency to navigate challenges that may arise. Highlight your time management skills, adaptability, and resilience in navigating challenges and balancing competing priorities. Discuss any support networks or resources you plan to leverage to enhance your graduate school experience and ensure your success. You can also draw from past experiences where you were required to manage multiple demands. By demonstrating your readiness for the academic demands and challenges of graduate school, you reassure the admissions committee of your readiness to be successful in the program.
Crafting a compelling personal statement requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Here are some essential do's and don'ts to keep in mind as you tackle this part of your application:
Do familiarize yourself with the program and its values, mission, and expectations before writing your personal statement.
Do capture the reader's attention with a compelling introduction that reflects your passion and commitment to the social work field.
Do follow all formatting guidelines (i.e., APA format, double-spacing, headings, word count).
Do use concrete examples to illustrate your points.
Do tailor your personal statement specifically to the social work profession to differentiate from other related professions.
Do follow the prompts and address all components of each prompt.
Do tie your examples and themes together for each prompt.
Don't start your personal statement last minute or rush the writing/revision process.
Don't write generic statements that do not provide meaningful insights into your unique experiences and aspirations.
Don't overlook proofreading or spending time checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Don’t trauma dump in your personal statement and instead, use your experiences to enhance your responses to the prompts.
Don't focus solely on grades and remember to highlight other aspects of your candidacy, such as personal and professional experiences.
Don’t only highlight what the program/school can offer you, also highlight what you can offer the program.
Don't forget to tailor your statement to each program you apply to, highlighting specific aspects of the program that align with your interests and goals.
MSW Helper’s Application Advisors are here to support you on your MSW application journey. Learn more and get support with your MSW application here .
Jessica is an Application Advisor at MSW Helper, and a Master of Social Work Candidate.
MSW Helper is a platform designed to help future social workers get accepted to their dream MSW programs. Through our personal statement editing services and free resources, we’re here to help you write your MSW personal statement with confidence.
MSW Helper is the ONLY grad school application service designed specifically for students who are applying to social work programs. Learn more about MSW Helper here.
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Expressing your interest in particular aspects of each program is no less crucial than a compelling conclusion. We can help you emphasize how well you suit the program and the value you will add.
You can always get in touch with your assigned writer directly. Feel free to provide any of your wishes on your personal statement conclusion, inquire about the project's status, or ask any other questions.
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This marketing specialist is bound to “sell” you into the university of your dreams! She knows all about the market, all the current trends, and the mistakes of the admission process. Therefore, she will be able to help you with the whole personal statement or just its conclusion for any program – each of them needs to be engaging, right?
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This procedure is not about challenges at all. Simply fill out a form to get us acquainted with your instructions and click on the payment button! If you want to receive a maximally customized personal essay, you need to provide us with particular data regarding your application, such as your accomplishments, the course you have picked, and the admission committee’s formatting rules.
When the payment process is finished, your author will immediately get down to crafting your personal essay. Set your mind at rest because each and every transaction is highly secured. Moreover, each client gets a transaction confirmation letter by email.
Once we get notified about a client’s successful transaction, they will instantly be sent Customer Area sign-in information. A customer’s password can be modified for a more comfortable website experience. The chief feature your customer area can offer is an anonymous chat with the assigned author and support agent. Furthermore, you can use your Customer Area to save completed admission docs, request revisions, or order any other essays.
You will be informed about all the updates by email. Besides, customers can order SMS notifications to track the order execution nonstop. When your document is ready, the Quality Department will make sure it follows all the requirements. Then a client will be able to download the final copy with the help of the Customer Area. Your personal statement will be ready on time! If there is a necessity to modify something in your essay, reach out to us within 14 days. Our editors will do it in a flash.
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You probably feel that just yesterday, you could not decide what to study and which university to choose, and now your deadline for application submission is fast approaching. Yes, the journey to a career goes through picking a field to study, selecting an appropriate study program, and finally, writing a personal statement to get into the dream university.
From the initial steps – choosing a career – you should be thinking of the final ones – how to conclude personal statement. This will help you a lot in making it a holistic narrative. You will be able to explain how you started and got to where you are right now. A personal statement should be memorable and vivid, so the more details about the whole journey you can spare, the better the result is. And lastly, knowing how to close a personal statement effectively also adds points to your application. And that is what we will discuss further in this text.
The closing paragraphs in personal statements are much more than just a requirement. They serve as the culmination of your story, your last chance to make an impression, and a chance to advance your eligibility. It is impossible to overstate the importance of a compelling conclusion because it is what can turn an average application into one that stands out, which is why you should know how to finish a personal statement.
Surely, there are a number of functions a vivid personal statement ending performs:
1. Leaving a lasting impression
The conclusion is a final note that echoes over and over again. All the content of the paper can be long forgotten and mixed till you get to the final part, and this is a chance for your story to linger for longer.
2. Framing
Leaving your personal essay without a proper conclusion is a bad trend. It makes the reader reread the whole text in order to remember it, and a conclusion gives it a sort of frame that structures the content and makes it easier to navigate.
3. Topics closure
Each theme discussed in a personal essay has to lead to something – to concluding a personal statement with reflections on the importance and value of the mentioned events. It’s a chance to reflect on your experiences, the insights you’ve gained, and the growth you’ve gone through.
4. Stirring up the interest
If there is something unsaid or mysteriously and abruptly mentioned in your conclusion – the admission committee will be eager to find out more and proceed to the next stage of applying.
So, do not underestimate the power of a compelling conclusion of a personal statement. This is your one and only chance to make an impression, be noticed, and stand out from the crowd of applicants.
As mentioned, the document’s conclusion is like a tune that never leaves your mind. But how to conclude a personal statement so that it really becomes an echo?
So, craft a conclusion that is easy to grasp and inspires. The more it resonates with the readers – the longer they will remember it. Besides, another way to make a personal statement conclusion like a pro is to delegate your documents to seasoned specialists who know all the nuances of the admission processes to your chosen programs and can transform your ideas into a convincing document with a vivid and motivating conclusion.
There are also some things to steer clear of using in your final sentences of a personal statement. Such things will only create unnecessary noise and take up the limited text volume.
So, when ending personal statement avoid using:
Remember that everything that you have lived through is an experience. It could be tough and unhappy times for you – yet it is what brought you to where you are and made you ambitious and strong. And that is the only way to write about it as nobody will be impressed with a whiner but with a resilient person – yes.
To find your inspiration when ending a personal statement, try to browse through examples and actual statements of other students available online. This will not only give you the idea of how to end a statement, how the conclusion should look like, and what to include in it, but also what to avoid in your own conclusion. Once you see a few of them, you will be able to tell which move is a good one and which is redundant.
This is a great way to learn and enhance not just the conclusion for personal statement but the whole document. You will be able to make it unique, engaging, and compelling without repeating what is now a new cliche. The only thing is to pick only the samples from trustworthy resources and professional personal statement writers like ours to be confident in the author’s proficiency and the work’s quality.
So, writing the conclusion of your application doc is a crucial step that can leave a lasting impression on admissions committees. This is your chance to bring your story to a compelling, impactful conclusion. Fortunately, if you want to make sure your doc ends on a high note, our team of expert writers is here to help. With their help, your conclusion personal statement will definitely resonate with those who review your application.
We place a high value on our customers’ comfort when providing professional personal statement services, which is why we offer a variety of ordering options, let customers interact directly with the writers of their conclusion of statement of purpose for greater influence, and price fairly. Additionally, complete confidentiality and secure payment options serve as the foundation.
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Monday 16 September 2024 19:01, UK
By Dan Whitehead , West of England and Wales correspondent
The number of second homes being put up for sale in one part of Wales has increased by more than 250% - as homeowners and businesses criticise the Welsh government's council tax premium.
Many councils in Wales now charge an inflated tax rate for second homes, up to 300%, with the aim of freeing up rarely used housing stock for locals and generating income.
In Pembrokeshire, the council tax premium increased to 200% in April, trebling the cost for homeowners and leading to many selling up.
Figures show that this July 135 second homes were listed for sale in the county, a rise of 255% compared to the 38 on the market at the same time last year.
Despite the influx of listings, actual sales are at a record low.
Estate agent Hamptons says second home sales accounted for just 4.5% of sales in Pembrokeshire in the first six months of 2024 - compared to 21% a decade ago.
Local agents say the properties coming onto the market are too expensive for first-time buyers - and that many homes are being listed in a loophole to avoid the increased tax.
Read the rest of Dan's report here:
Workers should still receive pensions from their employers, even if they don't pay into it themselves, a leading thinktank has said.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has proposed employees should receive an employer pension of at least 3% of total pay, irrespective of whether they also contribute (currently you have to pay in to qualify for your employer to match you - the amount they contribute depends on the company).
But the proposed change would particularly benefit women, part-time workers, young adults and lower earners, it was suggested.
It could also benefit 22% of private sector employees who either opt out of their pension scheme, or who are not automatically enrolled due to their earnings being too low.
The age range targeted by automatic enrolment should also be widened from 22 to state pension age to 16 to 74 to try and help more people in paid work save for later life.
The IFS has also suggested default employee contributions should be targeted at people on average incomes and above, to help middle and higher earners better supplement their state pension.
For example, the IFS has suggested a 12% default contribution rate of earnings above £35,000.
Less than half of private sector employees who save into a workplace pension contribute more than 8% of their earnings, researchers said.
Our business presenter Ian King investigated the retirement crisis facing the country earlier this summer - read his analysis here:
A scenic reservoir that went viral during the pandemic has gone up for sale (once again) and could be yours for £25,000...
Brombil Reservoir in Margam, Neath Port Talbot, saw a surge in visitors during COVID after millions viewed it on a TikTok about the UK's hidden gems.
In 2023 it first went up for sale for £75,000.
Speaking to the BBC at the time, estate agent Robin James said: "It's a one-off, to be honest, it's not something that's ever come up in the 24 years that I've been here."
Well, far from being a one-off, it appears to have spent more time on the market than off.
With a guide price equivalent to an average home in the area, it seems the sale didn't go as planned and its new owners put it back on the market (reportedly an hour after buying it).
The land was put back on the market on 27 February this year at £30,000 and was bought for half that on 11 March, according to the BBC.
Now it has a new guide price, of between £20,000 and 25,000.
But while it may seem cheaper than buying a house, it's not without its liabilities.
Samantha Price, who handled the sale for Watts & Morgan, told the BBC in March: "Brombil is actually high risk, because it is above residential units, so it's quite important that those items on that report are done within the set criteria."
Expedia has launched its first loyalty programme in the UK.
The One Key scheme is available for free for travellers who book flights, holiday homes, hotels, car rentals and activities on the travel website as well as Hotels.com and Vrbo.
It works by allowing you to earn a percentage of the programme's reward currency, called OneKeyCash, on purchases.
You can also earn the currency with most airline loyalty programmes, meaning you can get the rewards and still claim your frequent flier miles.
£1 of OneKeyCash equals a £1 discount on eligible bookings.
The amount you earn on each booking depends on whicj one of the four tiers you are on.
You move through the tiers by booking more trip elements, e.g. flights, rental cars and hotels.
With each higher tier, you can access better savings.
The tiers are:
Here's an example: A family of five staying five nights in a holiday home, flights and a car for five days would equal 15 trip elements. This would then unlock Gold status.
Or, a 10-night family holiday in a hotel, with flights, a rental car for 10 days, four activities and one airport transfer would equate to 30 elements, which would unlock Platinum status.
VIP access properties are stays that consistently receive high guest reviews on Expedia and meet the sites' quality standards.
Your membership tier resets each calendar year. The smallest booking fee you are able to gain rewards on is £20.
Your OneKeyCash will not expire as long as you earn or use it at least once in 18 months.
It might be too soon to be talking about Christmas, but this is a bit of an early present for some retail workers...
More than 300 John Lewis and Waitrose stores will remain closed on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, despite the holiday being seen as a lucrative day for retailers.
It comes as there has been a growing call to give retail staff the time off over the festive period, with Home Bargains set to close all of its branches on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Big brands, including Wilko and The Range, closed their stores on the 26 December last year, so there is potential for more to follow suit again this year.
Some premium Waitrose sites attached to petrol stations will remain open, and as well as the John Lewis in Trafford and Stratford shopping centre.
The boss of Octopus Energy has said suppliers should "be helpful" to elderly people losing their winter fuel payments.
Greg Jackson, who founded Octopus in 2016, said while some people were receiving it who didn't need it, "there's grey area of people losing it that need it - that's where we can help".
Winter fuel payments will now be restricted to just those receiving pension credits, which means about 10 million people will lose out this winter. About 11.5 million people previously received it.
The government argues it is right to means-test the benefit, worth up to £300, in order to tackle what it calls a “black hole” in the public finances.
But it has prompted outcry, including from some Labour MPs, with critics pointing out that pension credit only tops up income to £11,300 a year for individuals, meaning many who do not qualify could still struggle to pay bills.
Mr Jackson, who has been vocal in his support for previous Labour policies, said: "In these transition periods, it's easy for people to kick and scream.
"Alternatively, companies and others can say: 'How do we make this work in a way that is best for Britain and, in our case, best for our customers?'"
He added that the government has got to "make difficult decisions. So now let's be helpful in making sure that when you make those decisions, we can look after the people who will be worst affected."
However, ministers should keep a "close eye on the impact" of the policy if this winter is colder than usual, Mr Jackson said, and be "ready to act" if more support is needed.
Last year, his company's UK energy retail arm took on £69m of costs to lower customer bills.
The comments come just weeks before energy bills are due to get more expensive, after Ofgem increased the quarterly price cap, meaning bills are set to increase an average of £149 from October.
The average price tag on a home has jumped by nearly £3,000 this month, according to Rightmove.
Across Britain, the typical price being asked for a home coming on to the market increased by 0.8% or £2,974 to reach £370,759.
The price increase has come because the housing market in general appears to be recovering - compared to where it was this time in 2023.
Mortgage rates have been edging down, property choice has grown and earnings are rising faster than inflation and house price growth, all contributing to a market rebound.
Rightmove said the average property is still taking 60 days to find a buyer, which is three days longer than at this time last year, suggesting that buyers are taking their time to find the right home at the right price.
This means homeowners shouldn't let the increased activity make them feel over-optimistic and should still price competitively to sell their homes.
By James Sillars , business reporter
The focus of financial markets this morning is firmly on the US central bank.
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates for the first time since early 2020 on Wednesday, signalling a long-awaited drop in borrowing costs ahead.
The easing in the inflation crisis, which was largely caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and a slowdown in US growth is allowing the Fed to move.
But investors are increasingly pondering whether the rate-setting committee will opt for a bigger cut than the 0.25 percentage point reduction most had initially expected.
They cite data suggesting US rate policy is too restrictive given weakening economic fundamentals.
The effective split in market opinion over a 0.5 percentage point reduction pushed the dollar down against major currencies. It was trading a third of a cent lower versus the pound at $1.31.
As for stock markets, the FTSE 100 and US futures showed a fairly muted start to the week amid market closures for public holidays in China and Japan.
The FTSE was four points lower in early deals. Miners saw the main declines.
Analysts credited renewed economic weakness in China revealed in data over the weekend.
The Scottish Highlands could become the latest place in the UK to introduce a tourist tax.
If implemented, it would allow hotels, B&Bs, campsites and holiday lets in the hugely popular mountainous region to charge overnight guests an additional fee.
The money would be used by local councils to reinvest in services and facilities largely used by tourists and business visitors.
Last year, politicians in Scotland took the first step towards tourist taxes after passing the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill which allows councils that want to introduce a visitor levy to do so, after consultation with local communities, businesses and tourism organisations.
Highlands Council plans to start its three-month consultation later this year - with a price for the tax yet to be determined.
"Tourism is one of our most important sectors and the levy would form an essential part of how we sustain, maintain and develop the services and infrastructure which the sector relies on," Inverness councillor Ken Gowans said in favour of the tax.
"The upcoming consultation will give everyone the opportunity to put forward their views on how a levy scheme should operate and what the proceeds should be spent on."
The Highlands - which made National Geographic's Best of the World list last year - attracts millions of tourists annually and lays claim to hotspots such as Ben Nevis, Loch Ness and John o' Groats.
Various other UK cities have already implemented additional visitor fees, including Manchester, which charges £1 a night on most paid accommodation establishments across the city.
A £2 per room per night additional fee was implemented across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole in July.
Under the Visitor Levy Bill, the earliest any form of tourist tax across Scotland could come into force would be spring 2026.
Every Monday we get an expert to answer your money problems or consumer disputes. Find out how to submit yours at the bottom of this post. Today's question is...
My holiday cottage cancelled my booking 24 hours before my holiday, there are no alternative options similar to what I booked for a similar price. Do they need to pay me for the extras of booking last minute? Dave
We asked Scott Dixon, AKA The Complaints Resolver , to answer this one...
The first thing you need to do is check the T&Cs and see what their cancellation policy is.
Do they allow a host to cancel a booking with only 24 hours' notice?
A trader cannot revoke a contract unless the T&Cs include a fair term that stipulates how and when they can do so - the Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects you here.
So are they in breach of contract?
If so, you can typically expect a full refund via the same payment method (you do not have to accept a credit note/vouchers), although that does not address the problem of finding alternative options comparable to what you booked at a similar price.
A refund would only cover the original price and any extras paid to restore you to the original position you would have been in before you entered into the contract.
If they won't give you a refund, as a last resort you can take your case to the Small Claims Court in England and Wales, or use the respective legal routes in Scotland and Northern Ireland .
But again, legal action would only cover the original price you paid.
Go to third parties
If you booked the holiday cottage via a third-party listing site such as Airbnb, check their host cancellation policy. The listing site may levy penalties on the host if they have breached the cancellation policy.
If you booked it with a letting agent, you ought to be offered a full refund and possibly compensation.
You could try and claim on any travel insurance policy you may have in place.
If you are struggling to get a refund, you can contact your bank or credit card provider within 120 days of payment and raise a chargeback to dispute the transaction.
Stress there has been a "breach of contract" under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, as chargebacks are often rejected on the first attempt.
Your bank or credit card provider will reverse the payment and give the holiday cottage provider an opportunity to present their case.
If you paid at least a deposit by credit card and the stay was more than £100 (likely to be the case), you can make a S75 claim under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 against the credit card provider who is jointly liable.
Again, you need to cite "breach of contract" under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and push hard on it.
One route to get the additional compensation you asked about
If your credit card provider or travel insurance provider rejects your claim, ask for a deadlock/final response letter so you can refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service .
This usually means that they need to restore you to the position you were in before you entered into the contract and whether it is appropriate to award compensation for any distress or inconvenience caused.
This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about. Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute via:
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Week 1: brainstorming wednesday, september 11th, week 2: outlining & writing the first draft wednesday, september 18th, week 3: revising wednesday, october 2nd, week 4: refining wednesday, october 9th.
Live sessions are held at 4-5:30pm PT (7-8:30pm ET).
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A great personal statement starts with finding what matters to you, then generating at least 2-3 potential essay topics.
Before you start drafting, you’ll learn how to test which topic might be strongest for you with our five minute outline technique.
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You can find the homework in your course syllabus (linked above). Each week, we’ll ask you to complete optional brainstorming exercises or work on your essays in preparation for the upcoming live session.
Students have access to the course for one year from the date of purchase.
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Published 11 September 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-renters-rights-bill/82ffc7fb-64b0-4af5-a72e-c24701a5f12a
The Renters’ Rights Bill delivers our manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting, including by ending Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. The bill will improve the current system for both the 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords in England. It will give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness.
Reform of the sector is long overdue, and we will act where previous governments have failed. While the majority of landlords provide a good service, the private rented sector currently provides the least affordable, poorest quality and most insecure housing of all tenures.
Millions of people in England live day in, day out with the knowledge that they and their families could be uprooted from their home with little notice and minimal justification, and a significant minority of them are forced to live in substandard properties for fear that a complaint would lead to an instant retaliatory eviction.
A functioning private rented sector can provide a secure stepping stone for aspiring homeowners and flexibility for those who want it. But the insecurity embedded in the current tenancy system fails both those tenants looking for a stable home for their families and those landlords who are undercut by the rogues and chancers. It is a drain on aspiration and reform is central to our opportunity mission so all have the chance to achieve their potential.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will:
Abolish section 21 evictions and move to a simpler tenancy structure where all assured tenancies are periodic – providing more security for tenants and empowering them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of eviction. We will implement this new system in one stage, giving all tenants security immediately.
Ensure possession grounds are fair to both parties , giving tenants more security, while ensuring landlords can recover their property when reasonable. The bill introduces new safeguards for tenants, giving them more time to find a home if landlords evict to move in or sell, and ensuring unscrupulous landlords cannot misuse grounds.
Provide stronger protections against backdoor eviction by ensuring tenants are able to appeal excessive above-market rents which are purely designed to force them out. As now, landlords will still be able to increase rents to market price for their properties and an independent tribunal will make a judgement on this, if needed.
Introduce a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman that will provide quick, fair, impartial and binding resolution for tenants’ complaints about their landlord. This will bring tenant-landlord complaint resolution on par with established redress practices for tenants in social housing and consumers of property agent services
Create a Private Rented Sector Database to help landlords understand their legal obligations and demonstrate compliance (giving good landlords confidence in their position), alongside providing better information to tenants to make informed decisions when entering into a tenancy agreement. It will also support local councils – helping them target enforcement activity where it is needed most. Landlords will need to be registered on the database in order to use certain possession grounds.
Give tenants strengthened rights to request a pet in the property , which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. To support this, landlords will be able to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property
Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector to give renters safer, better value homes and remove the blight of poor-quality homes in local communities.
Apply ‘Awaab’s Law’ to the sector , setting clear legal expectations about the timeframes within which landlords in the private rented sector must take action to make homes safe where they contain serious hazards.
Make it illegal for landlords and agents to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits or with children – helping to ensure everyone is treated fairly when looking for a place to live.
End the practice of rental bidding by prohibiting landlords and agents from asking for or accepting offers above the advertised rent . Landlords and agents will be required to publish an asking rent for their property and it will be illegal to accept offers made above this rate.
Strengthen local authority enforcement by expanding civil penalties, introducing a package of investigatory powers and bringing in a new requirement for local authorities to report on enforcement activity.
Strengthen rent repayment orders by extending them to superior landlords, doubling the maximum penalty and ensuring repeat offenders have to repay the maximum amount.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will introduce a transformative new tenancy system, ending the threat of arbitrary section 21 evictions, which uproot renters from their homes with little notice and minimal justification. The new tenancy system will provide tenants with greater security and stability and empower them to challenge bad practice without fear of retaliatory eviction. Landlords will also benefit, with more straightforward regulation, and clearer and expanded possession grounds.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will remove fixed-term assured tenancies. Fixed-term tenancies mean renters are obliged to pay rent regardless of whether a property is up-to-standard, and they reduce flexibility to move in response to changing circumstances, for example after relationship breakdown, to take up a new job or when buying a first home.
Instead, all tenancies will be periodic, with tenants able to stay in their home until they decide to end the tenancy by giving 2 months’ notice. This will end the injustice of tenants being trapped paying rent for substandard properties and offer more flexibility to both parties to respond to changing circumstances.
We value the contribution made by responsible landlords who provide quality homes to their tenants and believe landlords must enjoy robust grounds for possession where there is good reason to take their property back. To support this, the bill clarifies and expands grounds for possession, while ensuring tenants are protected from arbitrary eviction and given enough time to find a new home.
Landlords must, as in the current system, go to court if a tenant does not leave. They will need to provide evidence that the ground is met. For mandatory grounds, the court must award possession if the ground is proven. For discretionary grounds, the court can consider if eviction is reasonable, even when the ground is met.
Where a tenant is at fault, landlords can give notice using the relevant grounds at any point in the tenancy. This includes where a tenant commits antisocial behaviour, is damaging the property, or falls into significant arrears.
We will introduce new protections for tenants who temporarily fall into rent arrears, supporting both parties by preventing tenancies which are otherwise viable from ending. We will increase the mandatory threshold for eviction from 2 to 3 months’ arrears and increase the notice period from 2 weeks to 4. This will allow tenants more time to repay arrears and remain in their homes, while ensuring landlords do not face unsustainable costs. Landlords can also continue to use the discretionary rent arrears grounds, for example if rent is repeatedly late.
As well as tenants, landlords’ own circumstances can sometimes change, and the bill includes strengthened rights to reclaim properties when it’s necessary, for example to sell or move in. Tenants will benefit from a 12-month protected period at the beginning of a tenancy, during which landlords cannot evict them to move in or sell the property. Landlords will need to provide 4 months’ notice when using these grounds, giving tenants more time to find a new home, and reducing the risk of homelessness.
In some sectors, it is necessary to move tenants on where accommodation is intended for a particular purpose, for example where the current tenant may no longer need the accommodation or is no longer eligible to occupy it. We will therefore introduce a limited number of possession grounds to ensure there is an adequate supply of properties in vital sectors such as temporary and supported accommodation, and for critical housing schemes such as ‘stepping stone’ accommodation.
To support compliance with requirements introduced elsewhere by the bill, we will prevent landlords gaining possession if they have not properly protected a tenant’s deposit or registered their property on the private rented sector database. We will ensure landlords are always able to rectify non-compliance, so they are not prevented from regaining possession indefinitely. These restrictions will not apply to antisocial behaviour grounds.
In line with the government’s manifesto, we will empower private rented sector tenants to challenge unreasonable rent increases. This will prevent unscrupulous landlords using rent increases as a backdoor means of eviction, while ensuring rents can be increased to reflect market rates.
In future, all rent increases in the private rented sector will be made using the same process. Landlords will be able to increase rents once per year to the market rate – the price that would be achieved if the property was newly advertised to let. To do this, they will need to serve a simple ‘section 13’ notice, setting out the new rent and giving at least 2 months’ notice of it taking effect.
If a tenant believes the proposed rent increase exceeds market rate, they can then challenge this at the First-tier Tribunal, who will determine what the market rent should be.
We will reform how the Tribunal works to ensure tenants feel confident in challenging poor practice and enforcing their rights. Currently, tenants face the risk that the Tribunal may increase rent beyond what the landlord initially proposed – we will end this, so tenants never pay more than what the landlord asked for. We will also end the practice of backdating rent increases – with the new rent instead applying from the date of the Tribunal determination – to ensure tenants are not unexpectedly thrust into debt. And, in cases of undue hardship, we will give the Tribunal the power to defer rent increases by up to a further 2 months.
To ensure tenants always have a right of appeal, and prevent backdoor evictions, rent increases by any other means – such as rent review clauses – will not be permitted. This will also ensure all parties are clearer on their rights and responsibilities.
To end the scourge of section 21 evictions as quickly as possible, we will introduce the new tenancy for the private rented sector system in one stage. On this date the new tenancy system will apply to all private tenancies - existing tenancies will convert to the new system, and any new tenancies signed on or after this date will also be governed by the new rules. Existing fixed terms will be converted to periodic tenancies, and landlords will no longer be able to serve new section 21 or old-style section 8 notices to evict their tenants. This single date will prevent a confusing 2-tier system, and give all tenants security immediately.
We will work closely with all parts of the sector to ensure a smooth transition to the new system, and will provide sufficient notice ahead of implementation. The bill makes specific provision to ensure a smooth transition and avoid unnecessary ‘cliff edges’, for example maintaining the validity of rent increases and notices served prior to implementation.
We remain committed to abolition of section 21 in the social rented sector too. While our intention is to do this as quickly as possible, we consider it necessary to update our Direction to the Regulator of Social Housing so that they can update their Tenancy Standard. This will ensure it is clear what registered providers must do under the new system. As this requires a statutory consultation process, we will apply the new system to social tenancies (where the landlord is a private registered provider of social housing) at a later date.
Assured shorthold tenancies are typically only used in the social sector where there was an expectation that a tenancy would be for the short-term. As such, the majority of social tenants already enjoy secure assured tenancies, which have greater security and do not allow the use of section 21.
Ground | Summary | Notice period | |
---|---|---|---|
Mandatory grounds | |||
1 | Occupation by landlord or family | The landlord or their close family member wishes to move into the property. Cannot be used for the first 12 months of a new tenancy. | 4 months |
1A | Sale of dwelling-house | The landlord wishes to sell the property. Cannot be used for the first 12 months of a new tenancy. | 4 months |
1B | Sale of dwelling-house under rent-to-buy | The landlord is a private registered provider of social housing and the tenancy is under a rent-to-buy agreement. | 4 months |
2 | Sale by mortgagee | The property is subject to a mortgage and the lender exercises a power of sale requiring vacant possession. | 4 months |
2ZA | Possession when superior lease ends | The landlord’s lease is under a superior tenancy that is ending. Can only be used by private registered providers of social housing, agricultural landlords, a person who held the dwelling for the purposes of making it supported accommodation or a company majority owned by a local authority. | 4 months |
2ZB | Possession when superior lease ends | The landlord’s lease is under a superior tenancy that is coming to an end or has ended. Can only be used if the superior lease was for a fixed term of over 21 years. | 4 months |
2ZC | Possession by superior landlord | After a superior tenancy ends, the superior landlord becomes the tenant’s direct landlord and seeks to take possession. Can only be used where the intermediate landlord prior to reversion was a private registered provider of social housing, agricultural landlord, a person who held the dwelling for the purposes of making it supported accommodation or a company majority owned by a local authority. | 4 months |
2ZD | Possession by superior landlord | After a superior tenancy ends, the superior landlord becomes the tenant’s direct landlord and seeks to take possession. Can only be used where the superior lease was for a fixed period of over 21 years and has expired, or within a 12 month period of the fixed term expiry date, if the fixed term has been ended early. Or if the superior tenancy comes to an end after the expiry of the fixed term as a result of a valid notice. | 4 months |
4 | Student accommodation | In the 12 months prior to the start of the tenancy, the property was let to students. Can only be used by specified educational establishments. | 2 weeks |
4A | Properties rented to students for occupation by new students | A property is let to full-time students and is required for a new group of students in line with the academic year. | 4 months |
5 | Ministers of religion | The property is held for use by a minister of religion to perform the duties of their office and is required for occupation by a minister of religion. | 2 months |
5A | Occupation by agricultural worker | The landlord requires possession to house someone who will be employed by them as an agricultural worker. | 2 months |
5B | Occupation by person who meets employment requirements | A private registered provider of social housing holds the property for use by tenants meeting requirements connected with their employment and it is required for that purpose (and the current tenant does not fulfil those requirements). | 2 months |
5C | End of employment by the landlord | Previously ground 16 (expanded). The dwelling was let as a result of the tenant’s employment by the landlord and the employment has come to an end OR the tenancy was not meant to last the duration of the employment and the dwelling is required by a new employee. | 2 months |
5D | End of employment requirements | A private registered provider of social housing, included an employment requirement in the tenancy agreement that the tenant no longer fulfils (e.g., key worker). | 2 months |
5E | Occupation as supported accommodation | The property is held for use as supported accommodation and the current tenant did not enter the tenancy for the purpose of receiving care, support or supervision. | 4 weeks |
5F | Dwelling-house occupied as supported accommodation | The tenancy is for supported accommodation and one of the circumstances set out in the ground, making the accommodation no longer viable or suitable for that tenant, has occurred. | 4 weeks |
5G | Tenancy granted for homelessness duty | The property has been used as temporary accommodation for a homeless household, under s193 of the Housing Act 1996, and a local housing authority has notified the landlord that the tenancy is no longer required for that purpose. The landlord can only use this ground if within 12 months of the date of the notice from the local housing authority. | 4 weeks |
5H | Occupation as ‘stepping stone accommodation’ | A registered provider of social housing or a charity lets to a tenant meeting eligibility criteria (e.g., under a certain age) at “affordable rent”, to help them access the private rented sector and/or transition to living independently, and the tenant no longer meets the eligibility criteria, or a limited period has come to an end. | 2 months |
6 | Redevelopment | The landlord wishes to demolish or substantially redevelop the property which cannot be done with the tenant in situ. Various time limits and/or notice requirements exist for this ground depending on the circumstances. The landlord and tenancy must be of the kind listed in the table. | 4 months |
6A | Compliance with enforcement action | The landlord is subject to enforcement action and needs to regain possession to become compliant. | 4 months |
7 | Death of tenant | The tenancy was passed on by will or intestacy. Possession proceedings must begin no later than 12 months after death or, if the court directs, after the date on which the landlord became aware of the death. | 2 months |
7A | Severe ASB/Criminal Behaviour | The tenant has been convicted of a type of offence listed in the ground, has breached a relevant order put in place to prevent anti-social behaviour or there is a closure order in place prohibiting access for a continuous period of more than 48 hours. | Landlords can begin proceedings immediately |
7B | No right to rent | At least one of the tenants has no right to rent under immigration law as a result of their immigration status and the Secretary of State has given notice to the landlord of this. | 2 weeks |
8 | Rent arrears | The tenant has at least 3 months’ (or 13 weeks’ if rent is paid weekly or fortnightly) rent arrears both at the time notice is served and at the time of the possession hearing. | 4 weeks |
Discretionary grounds | |||
9 | Suitable alternative accommodation | Suitable alternative accommodation is available for the tenant | 2 months |
10 | Any rent arrears | The tenant is in any amount of arrears | 4 weeks |
11 | Persistent arrears | The tenant has persistently delayed paying their rent, | 4 weeks |
12 | Breach of tenancy | The tenant is guilty of breaching one of the terms of their tenancy agreement (other than the paying of rent). | 2 weeks |
13 | Deterioration of property | The tenant has caused the condition of the property to deteriorate. | 2 weeks |
14 | Anti-social behaviour | The tenant or anyone living in or visiting the property has been guilty of behaviour causing, or likely to cause, nuisance or annoyance to the landlord, a person employed in connection with housing management functions, or anyone living in, visiting or in the locality of the property. Or the tenant or a person living or visiting the property has been convicted of using the premises for illegal/immoral purposes, or has been convicted of an indictable offence in the locality. | Landlords can begin proceedings immediately |
14A | Domestic Abuse | A social landlord wishes to evict the perpetrator of domestic violence if the partner has fled and is unlikely to return. | 2 weeks |
14ZA | Rioting | The tenant or another adult living at the property has been convicted of an indictable offence which took place at a riot in the UK. | 2 weeks |
15 | Deterioration of furniture | The tenant has caused the condition of the furniture to deteriorate. | 2 weeks |
17 | False statement | The tenancy was granted due to a false statement made knowingly or recklessly by the tenant or someone acting on their instigation. | 2 weeks |
18 | Supported accommodation | The tenancy is for supported accommodation and the tenant is refusing to engage with the support. | 4 weeks |
How does a private landlord currently evict a tenant .
We will introduce the new tenancy system for the private rented sector in one stage. On this date, the new tenancy system will apply to all private tenancies - existing tenancies will convert to the new system, and any new tenancies signed on or after this date will also be governed by the new rules.
A one-stage implementation will prevent a confusing 2-tier system, and give all tenants security immediately. We will provide the sector with sufficient notice of the system taking effect, and work closely with all parties to ensure a smooth transition.
For tenancies where the landlord is a private registered provider of social housing, we will implement the new system at a later date. This is to allow time to update our Direction to the Regulator of Social Housing so that they can update their Tenancy Standard – this requires a statutory consultation process.
As now, landlords will only need to go through the courts in a small minority of cases where a tenant doesn’t leave at the end of a notice period. Ultimately, we expect our rental reforms to reduce demand on the courts because only cases where there is a clear, well-evidenced ground for possession will be able to proceed.
We want to ensure that wherever possible court action is the last resort. The Renters’ Rights Bill makes provision for the ombudsman to provide landlord-initiated mediation, enabling disputes to be resolved before they escalate to court. We are working with the Ministry of Justice to explore further options for early dispute resolution.
However, where a dispute cannot be resolved through other methods, the involvement of the courts will continue to be a necessary part of the possession process, to ensure that landlords have proper grounds for proceeding. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working with the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunals Service to ensure that the county court is prepared for the changes to the tenancy system.
We will continue to work towards digitising the possession process so that, when court action is required, it is more efficient and easier for landlords and tenants to understand.
The reforms will apply to PRPs, in much the same way as private landlords. This will ensure social tenants have the same protections and flexibilities as those living in the private rented sector.
In some sectors, it is necessary to move tenants on where accommodation is intended for a particular purpose, particularly where the current tenant may no longer need the accommodation or is no longer eligible to occupy it.
The government will introduce a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman Service, which all private landlords in England with assured or regulated tenancies will be required by law to join, including those who use a managing agent.
Tenants will be able to use the service for free to complain about a landlords’ actions or behaviours. The service will offer fair, impartial and binding resolution for tenants, and will have powers to compel landlords to issue an apology, provide information, take remedial action, and/or pay compensation. The service will also benefit landlords by resolving tenant-initiated complaints in the quickest and most cost-effective way possible. Landlords will also have access to guidance and support from the ombudsman service to help them improve their complaint handling practices.
The bill includes robust enforcement measures for the ombudsman service. Local councils will be able to take action against landlords who fail to join, or against anyone who markets a PRS property where the landlord is not registered. This will include civil penalties of up to £7,000 for initial breaches and up to £40,000 or criminal prosecution for continuing or repeated breaches. Tenants will be able to seek rent repayment orders against their landlord if the landlord commits an offence by persistently failing to join the ombudsman service.
Landlords will be required to comply with ombudsman decisions. Failure to comply may result in a landlord being expelled from the scheme and subsequent local council enforcement action, as outlined above. There will be a route for landlords to rejoin the ombudsman service if they take the necessary steps to become compliant.
When will the ombudsman service be introduced and landlords be expected to sign up? Will they be expected to pay for membership?
The Renters’ Rights Bill will introduce a new Private Rented Sector Database. All landlords of assured and regulated tenancies will be legally required to register themselves and their properties on the database and could be subject to penalties if they market or let out a property without registering it and providing the required information.
The database will provide a ‘one stop shop’ for landlords allowing them to access relevant guidance through a single ‘front door’. This will provide the basis for an effective service, helping landlords understand their obligations and demonstrate compliance. The database will also be used for communicating changes to requirements – ensuring landlords have access to simple up-to-date information about their responsibilities.
For tenants, the database will increase transparency and the information available before they decide to rent a property and throughout their renting journey. This will allow them to take effective action to enforce their rights and be aware when they can escalate issues with their property to their local council or the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman.
The database will provide local councils with more data about private rented sector properties. One of the biggest and most time-consuming barriers faced by local councils is identifying poor quality and non-compliant private rented sector properties and who owns them. The database will provide a trusted and consistent intelligence source which will remove unnecessary, frustrating administration, meaning council staff will be able to focus on enforcement against criminal landlords.
Rental discrimination against families with children or people who receive benefits have no place in a fair and modern housing market. Everyone in the private rented sector is entitled to a safe and decent home and prospective tenants should be considered on an individual basis.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will take direct action to address rental discrimination practices in the private rented sector. It will address both overt discriminatory practices, such as ‘No DSS’ adverts, and situations where landlords or letting agents use other indirect practices in order to prevent someone entering into a tenancy.
Landlords and agents will continue to have the final say on who they let their property to and can carry out referencing checks to make sure tenancies are sustainable for all parties. They will be able to do this based on affordability, but not on the basis the prospective tenant has children or is in receipt of benefits.
We are introducing these protections in England and have worked closely with the Welsh and Scottish Governments to extend rental discrimination provisions to Wales and Scotland through the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will end the unfair practice of pitting renters against each other in bidding wars. By outlawing rental bidding, we will level the playing field for renters and crack down on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who make the most of the housing crisis by forcing tenants to bid for their properties.
Once enacted, the Renters’ Rights Bill will require landlords and letting agents to publish an asking rent for their property. It will also prohibit them from asking for, encouraging, or accepting any bids above this price.
By directly tackling rental bidding, the Renters’ Rights Bill will improve the experiences of prospective tenants across England and ensure that the exploitative approach currently taken by a minority of unscrupulous landlords is ended for good.
The government will carry out a New Burdens exercise to analyse the financial implication on local government of implementing and administering these provisions.
In line with the New Burdens doctrine, the government will fully fund the cost of any additional duties on local government.
Pets can bring a huge amount of joy to their owners. We are committed to supporting responsible pet ownership in the private rented sector. The Renters’ Rights Bill will ensure landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge unfair decisions.
We know that some landlords are concerned about potential damage caused by pets. That is why the Renters’ Rights Bill will allow landlords to require insurance covering pet damage. This will provide landlords with reassurance that any damage caused by a pet can be taken care of, and that the responsibility for preventing and resolving damage caused by a pet will fall to the tenant.
We will publish guidance for landlords and tenants before the new rules come into effect.
Everyone deserves to live in a safe and decent home. This is why we are introducing a Decent Homes Standard (DHS) in the private rented sector for the first time. Applying a DHS to privately rented homes will ensure tenants benefit from homes that are safe and decent.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will allow regulations to be made setting out DHS requirements for private rented sector homes and will provide local councils with effective and proportionate enforcement powers.
We know that the majority of landlords already provide decent housing and a good service for their tenants. The DHS will help landlords by clarifying requirements and establishing a level playing field, backed up by consistent enforcement.
No-one should be forced to live in a home that is unsafe. Following the tragic and avoidable death of 2-year old Awaab Ishak due to prolonged exposure to mould in his social rented home, the Manchester Evening News, Shelter and the Ishak family led a campaign for ‘Awaab’s Law’. This was introduced for social housing through the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will now extend Awaab’s Law to privately rented homes. This will ensure that all renters in England are empowered to challenge dangerous conditions and that all landlords must take swift action to make sure homes are safe.
The measures in the bill will allow new requirements to be set requiring private rented sector landlords to address hazards, such as damp and mould, within a specified time period. If landlords do not comply, tenants will be able to bring enforcement action against them through the courts.
The reforms we are introducing will be underpinned by an effective, consistent and proportionate enforcement framework. We are extending councils’ powers to collect and retain revenue for future enforcement work from financial penalties against landlords who flout the rules.
Initial or minor non-compliance will incur a civil penalty of up to £7,000 and serious, persistent or repeat non-compliance a civil penalty of up to £40,000, with the alternative of a criminal prosecution.
We are providing councils with a range of new investigatory powers which will allow them to enforce our new reforms, including powers to require information from relevant persons and any persons and powers of entry to business and residential premises.
In accordance with the New Burdens Doctrine, we will ensure that, where necessary, the net additional costs that may fall on local councils as a result of our proposed reforms are fully funded.
Rent repayment orders (RROs) are an important tenant-led enforcement tool to sit alongside the local authority enforcement that this Bill is giving impetus to. They deter landlords from non-compliance and empower tenants to take action against criminal landlords. RROs are also available to local authorities where the rent has been paid through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
We are introducing a package of measures to strengthen RROs. The measures will increase the deterrent effect of RROs, make them easier and more appealing for tenants and local authorities to pursue and expand them to cover more of the sector.
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The best statements tend to be genuine and specific from the very start. You'll be on the right track if you show your enthusiasm for the subject or course, your understanding of it, and what you want to achieve.
Admissions tutors – the people who read and score your personal statement – say don’t get stressed about trying to think of a ‘killer opening’. Discover the advice below and take your time to think about how best to introduce yourself.
Preparing to write your personal statement.
Start by making some notes . The personal statement allows admissions tutors to form a picture of who you are. So, for the opener, think about writing down things, such as:
If you’re applying for multiple courses , think about how your skills, academic interests, and the way you think are relevant to all the courses you've chosen.
We spoke to admissions tutors at unis and colleges – read on for their tips.
Try not to overthink the opening sentence. You need to engage the reader with your relevant thoughts and ideas, but not go overboard .
Tutors said: ‘The opening is your chance to introduce yourself, to explain your motivation for studying the course and to demonstrate your understanding of it. The best personal statements get to the point quickly. Go straight in. What excites you about the course and why do you want to learn about it more?’
Be succinct and draw the reader in, but not with a gimmick. This isn't the X Factor. Admissions tutor
Think about why you want to study the course and how you can demonstrate this in your written statement :
’Your interest in the course is the biggest thing. Start with a short sentence that captures the reason why you’re interested in studying the area you’re applying for and that communicates your enthusiasm for it. Don't waffle or say you want to study something just because it's interesting. Explain what you find interesting about it.’
It's much better to engage us with something interesting, relevant, specific and current in your opening line… Start with what's inspiring you now, not what inspired you when you were six. Admissions tutor
Try to avoid cliches and the most obvious opening sentences so you stand out from the very first line . UCAS publishes a list of common opening lines each year. Here are just some overused phrases to avoid using in your personal statement:
And try not to use quotes . Quotations are top of the list of admissions tutors' pet hates.
’Concentrate on the main content of your statement and write the introduction last. I think the opening line is the hardest one to write, so I often say leave it until the end and just try and get something down on paper.’
It may be easier to get on with writing the main content of your statement and coming back to the introduction afterwards –that way you will also know what you’re introducing.
I often advise applicants to start with paragraph two, where you get into why you want to study the course. That's what we're really interested in. Admissions tutor
Don’t be tempted to copy or share your statement.
UCAS scans all personal statements through a similarity detection system to compare them with previous statements.
Any similarity greater than 30% will be flagged and we'll inform the universities and colleges to which you have applied.
Joseph bolton: year 2 history& politics student, university of liverpool.
Think about making a link between your opening sentence and closing paragraph – a technique sometimes called the 'necklace approach’.
You can reinforce what you said at the start or add an extra dimension. For example, if you started with an interesting line about what’s currently motivating you to study your chosen degree course, you could link back to it at the end, perhaps with something about why you’d love to study this further at uni.
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Because a strong ending can help a college application essay stand out, this guide offers 10 approaches students can use to build better endings.
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The personal statement is your opportunity to talk about you, and why you want to enrol on a particular course. You've got this far - showing your passion for the subject. But how do you end your personal statement in a way that truly does it justice?
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Hook Them Through to the End You can hook your reader with the introduction to your personal statement. And you can wow them with magical words in your personal statement. But if you don't write a strong conclusion to your personal statement? You'll leave program directors and admission committees with a whimper, rather than a bang.
Personal statement sentence starters fall into three specific categories. Introductions, comparisons and conclusions are effective ways to start paragraphs. Use connections, additions and relationships when developing content. Starters relating to the presentation of ideas work well throughout. From sixth-form personal statement sentence ...
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Impress admissions tutors by getting the tone of your psychology personal statement spot-on. Here are some top tips on how to do so (no reverse psychology required). If you're writing a psychology personal statement, describing your personal insights into the subject or how you've pursued your interest outside the classroom will impress over ...
How to end your personal statement It's always good to connect the beginning of your statement to the end and a great way to reinforce what you said at the start.
Read example essays and write your personal statement for college and university admission using our free and low-cost video courses and step-by-step guides.
Do tailor your personal statement specifically to the social work profession to differentiate from other related professions. Do follow the prompts and address all components of each prompt. Do tie your examples and themes together for each prompt. Don'ts: Don't start your personal statement last minute or rush the writing/revision process.
Need help to wrap up your personal statement? Learn how to end a personal statement so that the admission committee has no doubts about your excellence!
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Then, guided by the live sessions, you'll complete tried-and-tested assignments, including writing your first draft. Each week, I workshop real students' essays & answer all of your college essay and application questions, ensuring you end the course with an outstanding personal statement.
Ground: Summary Notice period; Mandatory grounds 1: Occupation by landlord or family: The landlord or their close family member wishes to move into the property.
The personal statement is your opportunity to talk about you, and why you want to enrol on a particular course. But how do you start it strongly? Read our advice below on what to include, what not to do, and how to approach it.