Consultation Opens On Landlord & Tenant Bill
The Ministry of Home Affairs has opened a public consultation on the draft 2025 Landlord and Tenant Bill, seeking feedback from residents, landlords, tenants, and industry stakeholders.
The public consultation will remain active until October 31, 2025. Feedback can be submitted online at www.forum.gov.bm.
A Government spokesperson said, “The proposed legislation repeals and replaces the Landlord and Tenant Act 1974 and the Rent Increases [Domestic Premises] Control Act 1978. It marks a key step in delivering on the Government’s commitment to “complete the amendments to the Landlord and Tenant Act to support mutually positive rental relationships”.
“The draft Bill proposes a single, modern framework to govern rental housing in Bermuda. It aims to enhance fairness, increase transparency, and protect the rights of both tenants and landlords. Notably, it expands the enforcement powers of the Rent Commission, enabling stronger oversight and faster resolution of complaints.”
Minister of Home Affairs Alexa Lightbourne said, “Bermuda must evolve its laws to meet present-day realities. This Bill modernises our rental legislation in direct response to what we’ve heard; from renters struggling to get repairs addressed, to landlords calling for greater consistency and clarity. By reducing red tape, clarifying rights and responsibilities, and strengthening resolution processes, we believe this Bill lays the foundation for a more stable and equitable rental market.”
The spokesperson said, “This consultation is part of the Government’s broader housing agenda, which includes expanding affordable housing, offering targeted duty relief for construction, and delivering sustained cost of living relief.
“It also builds on months of targeted engagement by the Ministry with stakeholder groups, including realtors, landlords’ associations, and tenant organisations.”
Minister Lightbourne concluded, “This reform demonstrates our commitment to deliver meaningful relief and reflect the lived realities of our people. We are focused on creating a clear and fair framework that works for Bermuda today. All residents are invited to share their views to help ensure that the final Bill reflects the needs of the entire community. With your help, we will deliver people-first reform and solutions.”
The Landlord and Tenant Act 2025 – Consultation Draft Bill follows below [PDF here]:
“It aims to enhance fairness, increase transparency, and protect the rights of both tenants and landlords.”
Uh, oh.
Everyone has the ability to provide feedback, and the OBA has the ability to debate and offer amendments in the House. This truly can be everyone’s bill if you actually want it to be. One of the most key items voters have been screaming for is Landlord Tenant reform.
Government getting out of the real estate business would be a good start.
Begin this by dissolving the Rent Control office. Rents would then find their market value and landlords will invest in local rentals again.
No landlord is going to invest tens of thousands into property only to be told what it can be rented for and treated as if it is Government owned property by the courts.
I will need time to look at this. However, high costs and little or no credits for those under the regulation oversight of “rent control” , it is not economical to “rent” especially property trashed within a year or so and non payment, after a sign up occupancy.
To attempt to enforce damage repair and payment from a tenant with no money is not smart -the only renumeration is a “big legal bill “ that the landlord needs to pay. It is better to leave the rent control property vacant. This is sad under the current housing crisis.
I hope government’s plan ; guarantees implements a tenants a “record” history of good / bad behavior/rent history. A similar program exists in the US under HUD and the tenants know that the one thing they do not do is destroy property.
Obviously there ar bad landlord actors as well and enforcement for “fair play” must also be enforced. A property to be leased needs to be safe and conform to the law as well as common dignity.
Respectfully,
This sounds like another landlord who has been screwed over by tenants playing the system and the courts.
There are many like him.
A registry of undesirable tenants would be a good thing. No fear for the good tenants but the bad ones would quickly find themselves in an extremely difficult spot finding accommodations.
Once on that ‘dont rent to’ getting off of it would not be easy.
Right now the best that landlords can do is demand references before renting. Talking to previous, not current, landlords is a good start.
Exactly, the way to help the rent control housing (and I have no problem with rent control) is to have the “enforcer” be BHC or an agency in government. The Landlord as well as the tenant act with fair play; and the wear and tear should by reasonable not in destructive condition;
HUD section 8 has very little issues in the US as there are consequences for land lord and the tenant for issues.
In my experience, tenants in rent controlled premises tend to be good tenants. They do not want to be looking for new accommodation at market rents.