personal statement for a social work

10 MSW Personal Statement Examples (with Commentary)

Get inspired by some of the best MSW personal statement examples below.

These personal statement examples are inspired by actual essays from students with whom we’ve collaborated, essays that contributed to their successful admissions. For confidentiality, key details have been altered.

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Table of Contents

Example 1: NYU MSW Personal Statement Sample

Prompt: ‘why i want to be a social worker’ essay.

At the tender age of five, as my family faced the challenges of immigrating to the United States, I quickly became attuned to the complexities surrounding us. This early brush with adversity sparked my quest for understanding, especially in the realm of adolescent experiences. Growing up in a household where my mother tirelessly cared for us, while my father remained emotionally distant, I learned to seek solace in introspection and daydreaming. These experiences laid the foundation for my deep empathy towards others and a commitment to understanding them beyond surface-level perceptions.

My ability to empathize with others, particularly adolescents, has been a guiding force in my life. Working with XXXX as a counselor, I revisited my own teenage years, recognizing the crucial need for guidance during this transformative phase. This realization has fueled my determination to specialize in counseling and therapy for adolescents, a path I am eager to pursue through NYU’s Master of Social Work program. I am convinced that effective counseling during adolescence is pivotal in shaping capable, responsible adults.

My internship at XXXX Health was a turning point. Observing clinical behavioral health therapists and working alongside a psychiatrist specializing in post-incarceration life, I gained profound insights into the long-lasting impact of disrupted adolescent experiences. Hearing the narratives of former inmates underscored the importance of early intervention in defining one’s identity. This experience intensified my desire to work with young individuals struggling to find their place in the world.

Choosing NYU Silver was a natural decision. The school’s esteemed faculty, particularly Dr. Kirk Jae James, resonates with my journey as an immigrant. Dr. James’ dedication to overcoming his challenging past and disproving stereotypes is not just inspiring; it mirrors the resilience and determination I strive to embody. His work with those affected by mass incarceration aligns closely with my aspiration to be a clinical therapist who can bring change to young lives.

New York City, the vibrant and diverse backdrop of NYU Silver, also greatly appeals to me. The city’s rich history of nurturing notable figures like Andy Warhol, Roy Halston, and Jean Basquiat speaks to its capacity to foster self-discovery and belonging. I am excited to immerse myself in this melting pot of cultures and ideas, which will undoubtedly enrich my learning and practice in clinical therapy.

My personal history, particularly my father’s struggle with his traumatic childhood, has taught me that resilience and determination are key to overcoming adversity. His journey, though fraught with challenges, has instilled in me the belief that embracing the unknown and being steadfast in one’s goals can lead to remarkable achievements. Carrying this lesson with me, I step into NYU Silver poised to embark on a journey towards becoming an influential clinical therapist for adolescents.

My path to NYU Silver is more than an academic pursuit; it is a commitment to my dream of guiding adolescents through their most vulnerable years. By combining my personal experiences with the comprehensive training at NYU Silver, I am ready to make a meaningful impact in the field of clinical therapy, helping young individuals navigate their formative years with understanding and resilience.

Commentary:

Personal and Cultural Background : Effectively connects early experiences as an immigrant to developing empathy, crucial for social work.
Professional Aspirations : Clearly links past experiences with seniors and an internship to a focused interest in clinical therapy for adolescents.
Academic Motivation : Draws a parallel between personal experiences and the inspiration found in NYU Silver’s faculty and New York City’s diversity.
Resilience and Determination : Reflects on lessons learned from family, particularly the father, instilling a belief in achieving ambitious goals.
Career Vision : Articulates a strong desire to impact adolescent lives, demonstrating an understanding of the field’s challenges and opportunities.

Verdict: The personal statement is heartfelt and well-structured, showing a clear link between the candidate’s background, their professional drive, and their chosen academic path. The reflection on personal and family resilience adds depth, positioning the candidate as a motivated individual ready to leverage their experiences for meaningful social work.

Example 2: Columbia MSW Personal Statement Sample

Part 1: Reflecting upon your decision and motivation to pursue the MSW, describe how attending CSSW will enable you to meet your goals as a social worker. What are your immediate and long-term social work goals?
Part 2: Describe a social problem of significance to you. Please discuss it in regard to societal contributions to the origin of the problem, experiences that have contributed to your identification and understanding of the problem, and possible ways of addressing the problem.
Part 3: Choose two attributes and provide examples as to how you exemplify these traits. Choose one attribute you would like to improve. How will attending the MSW program at CSSW help you in doing so?

1. Motivation and Goals for Pursuing MSW:

From a young age, I have been acutely aware of the disparities and injustices in my community. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood in Chicago, I witnessed firsthand the detrimental effects of poverty, limited access to quality education, and the cycle of violence. These early observations fueled my passion for social work, specifically my desire to develop community-based programs aimed at youth empowerment and education. My immediate goal is to work in a non-profit organization focused on urban youth development, while my long-term ambition is to establish a foundation dedicated to providing educational resources and mentorship programs for at-risk youth.

Attending the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) will provide me with the critical skills, knowledge, and network necessary to achieve these goals. CSSW’s commitment to social justice, its comprehensive curriculum, and the opportunity to learn from esteemed faculty and diverse peers will equip me with a nuanced understanding of social issues and effective intervention strategies.

2. A Significant Social Problem:

The social problem that resonates most with me is the school-to-prison pipeline, an issue rampant in many urban communities, including my own. This problem arises from a combination of societal factors such as underfunded public schools, zero-tolerance policies, and systemic racial discrimination. My understanding of this issue deepened through volunteering at a local youth center, where I encountered numerous teens who had been expelled from school and were at risk of entering the juvenile justice system.

Addressing this problem requires a multi-faceted approach, starting with policy reform to prioritize education and rehabilitation over punishment. Community-based intervention programs focusing on mentorship, counseling, and educational support can play a vital role in diverting at-risk youth from the criminal justice system. At CSSW, I hope to explore these interventions in-depth and develop effective strategies to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.

3. Personal Attributes and Areas for Improvement:

Empathy : My empathy has been a guiding force in my social work journey. A poignant example was when I volunteered at a local youth center. There, I met a teenager named Marcus who had been expelled from school. By actively listening and engaging with him, I learned about his challenges at home and his struggles with learning disabilities. Understanding his situation, I worked with the youth center staff to develop a personalized educational plan and connect him with a mentor. This experience deepened my ability to empathize with individuals from diverse backgrounds, recognizing the unique challenges they face.

Resilience : My resilience was particularly tested when I spearheaded a community project to revitalize a rundown public park. The project faced numerous setbacks, including funding shortages and bureaucratic hurdles. Despite these challenges, I mobilized the community, organized fundraising events, and negotiated with local officials. The successful completion of the park not only provided a safe space for children but also reinforced my ability to persist in the face of adversity, a crucial trait for a social worker.

Area for Improvement – Policy Advocacy : My experience in grassroots initiatives has been rewarding, but it also highlighted the limitations of addressing social issues without policy change. For instance, while volunteering at the youth center, I realized that individual interventions, though beneficial, could not alone prevent the systemic issue of school expulsions leading to juvenile detentions. This recognition has fueled my desire to improve my skills in policy advocacy, an area where I see great growth potential. CSSW’s program, with its emphasis on policy practice, will be instrumental in helping me acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to advocate effectively for systemic changes.

Conclusion:

Attending Columbia School of Social Work will be a pivotal step in my journey to becoming an impactful social worker. I am eager to engage with the CSSW community, learn from diverse experiences, and contribute my perspective towards creating meaningful change. I am committed to using the knowledge and skills gained from CSSW to fight for social justice and empower the youth in communities like mine.

Clarity of Motivation : The essay effectively communicates the candidate’s personal experiences and observations of disparities in their community as key motivators for pursuing social work.
Goal-Oriented : Clearly outlines immediate and long-term goals, demonstrating a focused vision for a career in social work.
Understanding of a Social Issue : The candidate’s insight into the school-to-prison pipeline, informed by volunteer experiences, indicates a deep understanding of this complex social problem.
Attributes and Self-Improvement : Demonstrates empathy and resilience through specific examples. Identifies policy advocacy as an area for improvement and connects this to CSSW’s curriculum.
Personal and Professional Growth : The candidate’s experiences, challenges faced, and the growth they seek align well with the offerings of the CSSW program.

Verdict: The candidate’s personal statement is compelling and well-crafted. It showcases a strong personal connection to the field, a clear understanding of relevant social issues, and a desire for professional growth that aligns with the CSSW program.

Example 3: UC Berkeley MSW Statement of Purpose Sample

Please address each of the following in your statement:

Describe your aptitude, motivation and preparation for graduate study in the field of social welfare; your future career goals in the profession of social work; and achievements that demonstrate your professional promise and leadership potential as a social worker.
Describe your academic and professional areas of interest in social work, including your chosen area(s) of specialization.
Demonstrate your understanding of contemporary issues and challenges in the professional practice of social work by posing a question or identifying a relevant problem/current issue you would like to explore, and how you might address it from the perspective of a masters’-level social worker.

My journey into the world of social work began with a deeply personal experience – caring for my youngest daughter who faced developmental and language delays. This challenge opened my eyes to the struggles of parents with special needs children and sparked my commitment to helping vulnerable groups. I founded a non-profit organization to support children in rural Russian orphanages, which expanded my drive to assist not only children but also adults suffering from trauma and PTSD. This path has led me to pursue the Master of Social Welfare program at Berkeley, where I aim to deepen my knowledge and skills for effective global impact.

My background is richly diverse. As a mother of four bilingual, multicultural children, I developed a keen interest in early bilingualism. For my thesis at XXXX State Linguistic University, I explored bilingual language development in infants and toddlers, focusing on methods used by parents raising bilingual children. This research, recommended for publication as a guide for multilingual families, heightened my awareness of the challenges immigrant families face globally. It solidified my resolve to find research-based solutions to social issues, a commitment I bring to Berkeley’s rigorous program.

Professionally, I thrived as a XXXX Director for XXXX in Russia, where I honed leadership skills by building a team of passionate educators. A notable achievement was our collaboration with XXXX Department, providing educational programs to young patients. This experience was transformative, broadening my perspective on social change and reinforcing my desire to make a meaningful difference.

As a certified life and leadership coach, I focused on assisting Russian-speaking immigrants and refugee women, many confronting dire challenges like domestic abuse and PTSD. These encounters underscored the need for specialized social welfare skills, steering me towards a Master’s in Social Work. My goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializing in trauma and PTSD, and to contribute on an international scale, possibly with organizations like Doctors Without Borders.

Recognizing the critical role of language in social work, I have been learning Spanish and French to better connect with diverse patient populations. My linguistic background enhances my ability to engage effectively in multicultural settings. To gain practical experience, I completed a 90-hour training at Crisis Support Services of XXXX and began volunteering on their crisis line. This hands-on involvement, particularly during these challenging times, has further motivated me toward my LCSW goal.

UC Berkeley’s MSW program, known for its diverse student body and commitment to public service, is the ideal environment for me to grow. Surrounded by peers and faculty who share a dedication to social justice, I am eager to expand my understanding and prepare for a career dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable individuals, families, and communities.

Personal Experience as Motivation : The statement effectively uses the candidate’s personal experience of caring for a child with developmental delays as a catalyst for their interest in social work.
Global Perspective : Showcases a strong commitment to international social issues through work with Russian orphanages and immigrant communities.
Professional Achievements : Highlights relevant professional experiences, including leadership roles and work with vulnerable populations.
Educational Goals and Alignment : Clearly articulates the desire to specialize in trauma and PTSD, aligning with Berkeley’s MSW program’s strengths.
Multicultural and Linguistic Skills : Demonstrates an understanding of the importance of cultural competence in social work, supported by multilingual abilities.

Verdict: The candidate presents a compelling mix of personal motivation, professional experience, and academic alignment with the MSW program at UC Berkeley. Their diverse background and specific career goals make them an ideal candidate for the program.

Example 4: Cal State Fullerton MSW Personal Statement Sample

The quality of the writing in the personal statement will be evaluated, as will the applicant’s ability to thoroughly address the questions outlined below:

Describe how your personal background and life experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate education in social work. Please include any challenges or hardships you may have overcome on your journey.
What are your expectations of graduate education at Cal State Fullerton in terms of your own development? Indicate any problems or limitations that should be taken into account in planning your graduate program.
Specify your career objectives as a professional social worker as you now conceive them. Indicate the fields of practice in which you are interested.
Describe your experiences with diverse populations and groups, and how those experiences have contributed to your interest in social work. Which population (defined by culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, psychological and/or physical functioning) would you like to serve and why?

While managing an in-school feeding program, I watched a 7-year-old boy take a modest meal at school, and save half for his siblings at home. Another girl expressed joy for the school meals she relied on. These encounters, and others like them, deeply impacted me, highlighting the critical issue of child hunger and food insecurity. My resolve to expand our school feeding program was fueled by these experiences, successfully growing it from 7 to 1,053 schools over five years.

After graduating, I joined the Philippine XXXXX in 2001, managing the Business and Peace Program in the XXXXX Region. Here, I worked with XXXXXX, identifying young Muslims for internships that fostered leadership and peace.

In 2008, I transitioned to the XXXXX Foundation, developing community programs and managing the in-school feeding program, which fed 40,000 children at its peak. These experiences solidified my commitment to child welfare and my belief in the power of social work.

Managing the feeding program, I faced ethical challenges, like discovering fund misappropriation by a local agency officer. I addressed this by establishing direct communication with schools and conducting random checks, ensuring program integrity.

Then in 2013, I took a break to focus on family and moved to XXXXX. Motherhood enriched my perspective, making me more empathetic, resilient, and dedicated to child welfare. Now ready to re-enter the social work field, I seek an MSW degree to update my skills and knowledge.

Post-MSW, I aim to influence policies and contribute to community-based solutions in the Philippines, aspiring to work with large non-profits and eventually with international agencies like UNICEF.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened child poverty in the Philippines, underscoring the urgency of my mission. At CSU Fullerton, I plan to study social work theories, understand child welfare systems, and apply these learnings to the Philippine context.

With a Master of Social Work degree, I am poised to join the effort to advance children’s welfare, equipped to make a significant difference in their lives. The Filipino children cannot wait. They need all the help they can get. And with a Master of Social Work degree from CSU Fullerton, the battle will have been half-won.

Personal Narrative as Motivation : The statement effectively uses the applicant’s personal experiences with poverty, domestic violence, and addiction to illustrate a deep-rooted motivation for pursuing social work.
Community Involvement and Professional Experience : Highlights significant community engagement and professional achievements, demonstrating a commitment to social justice and positive change.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations : Discusses challenges faced during professional work, showing problem-solving skills and ethical awareness.
Academic and Career Goals : Clearly articulates how an MSW will enrich the applicant’s knowledge and skills, aiming to influence policies and create community-based solutions.
Personal Growth and Family Perspective : Reflects on the lessons learned from being a stay-at-home mother, tying this to a renewed enthusiasm for child welfare work.

Verdict: The statement presents a well-rounded candidate with a compelling personal connection to social work, reinforced by active community involvement, ethical professional practice, and clear career goals. The applicant’s experiences and aspirations align well with the MSW program at CSU Fullerton- making them a strong candidate.

Example 5: Cal State Long Beach MSW Personal Statement Sample

How did you become interested in social work? What motivated you to choose social work as a profession?

My passion for social work and advocacy for equality is rooted in a fundamental belief: no voice should be silenced in the pursuit of a just society. Throughout my life, I’ve witnessed how advocates for equality are often marginalized, their concerns unheard. This fuels my commitment to actively work towards a just world, where standing up for justice is a right for all.

As a child of Mexican immigrants, I experienced the harsh realities of a low-income household. This upbringing ingrained in me deep empathy and an intimate understanding of the struggles faced by underprivileged communities. My parents’ relentless hard work and sacrifices, despite economic hardships, have been a constant source of inspiration. They taught me resilience, compassion, and the importance of community support.

My professional journey in social work began at XXXX Community Development Corporation, where I took a lead role in organizing a landmark meeting with elected officials. We successfully voiced community concerns, addressing critical issues like infrastructure and public safety. This experience honed my skills in advocacy and highlighted the power of active listening and engagement.

Furthering my commitment, I volunteered at XXXX Volunteers in Medicine, assisting in providing healthcare to those unable to afford it. Here, I learned the critical role of accessible healthcare and the importance of educating communities about healthy living. These experiences have solidified my resolve to pursue a career in social work, focusing on advocating for essential services and support for underprivileged communities.

My aspiration to become a licensed clinical social worker, specializing in children’s mental health, aligns perfectly with the academic rigor and diverse environment offered by the Master of Social Work program at CSULB. As an undergraduate at CSULB, I was captivated by the program’s depth and the diverse perspectives it embraced. The experiences shared with students from varied backgrounds deepened my understanding of the multifaceted challenges in our society.

I am fully committed to investing my time and resources in the coursework and fieldwork placements at CSULB. The opportunity to study in a stimulating environment, surrounded by professionals who share my passion, will provide a solid foundation for my career. I bring with me a wealth of practical insights from working with low-income communities, the homeless, the elderly, and drug users. These experiences, I believe, will contribute significantly to our class discussions and align perfectly with CSULB’s mission of supporting vulnerable and oppressed populations.

My journey in social work is a commitment to those who struggle to be heard. At CSULB, I aim to further my skills, knowledge, and understanding, preparing myself to be a force for change and a voice for the voiceless. My goal is to ensure that every child, family, and community I work with gets the opportunity to thrive, just as I strive to make a meaningful impact in the field of social work.

Strong Personal Connection : The statement effectively connects the candidate’s personal background as a child of Mexican immigrants to her empathy and understanding of underprivileged communities.
Professional Experience : Highlights relevant work in community development and healthcare, which demonstrates practical skills in advocacy and community engagement.
Academic and Career Goals : Clearly articulates the ambition to specialize in children’s mental health, aligning with CSULB’s program.
Commitment to Social Work Values : Demonstrates a deep commitment to social justice, aligned with the mission of CSULB’s social work program.

Verdict: The personal statement is comprehensive and well-constructed, effectively demonstrating the candidate’s passion, relevant experience, and alignment with CSULB’s Master of Social Work program. The candidate’s background and professional aspirations make them a strong fit for the program.

Example 6: San Jose State University MSW Personal Statement Sample

In the heart of a small migrant community, where the sting of social inequities was a daily reality, my path toward a career in social work began to take shape. My childhood, marked by the challenges of racial discrimination and economic struggle, instilled in me not only resilience but a deep understanding of the complex social fabric that shapes communities. It was these formative experiences, coupled with my time volunteering at a local shelter, that solidified my dedication to advocating for social justice.

Professionally, my experiences have been closely aligned with the values at the core of social work. Serving as a community organizer, I worked alongside local leaders to tackle critical issues like housing affordability and healthcare accessibility, gaining valuable insights into the world of policy advocacy. Another pivotal role was as a counselor for at-risk youth, where I developed a keen understanding of the challenges faced by young people from diverse backgrounds. This role was instrumental in refining my skills in empathy and communication.

Looking ahead, my immediate goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a focus on trauma and PTSD. In the long run, I aspire to establish a non-profit dedicated to providing mental health services to marginalized communities. These ambitions are rooted in a deep-seated commitment to effecting lasting change for those society often overlooks.

San Jose State University’s MSW program, renowned for its emphasis on culturally competent practice, particularly with Latinx and other minority groups, aligns perfectly with both my personal and professional values. The program’s exceptional faculty and comprehensive curriculum stand out as ideal for nurturing my academic and professional growth.

In conclusion, I am confident that my time at San Jose State University will not only refine my existing skills but also expand my perspectives, equipping me to become an effective, empathetic social worker. I am eager to embrace the tools and knowledge that the program offers, to champion social justice and make a tangible difference in the lives of those most in need.

This MSW personal statement sample effectively showcases the candidate’s journey and motivation towards a career in social work. It does well in several key aspects:

Personal Experience : The statement begins with a compelling narrative about the candidate’s upbringing in a diverse, challenging environment, effectively linking personal background to their interest in social work.
Professional Alignment : The candidate skillfully ties their professional experiences, like community organizing and counseling, to the core values of social work- to demonstrate a clear understanding and commitment to the field.
Future Goals & Alignment with the Program : The statement outlines specific short-term and long-term professional goals, aligning them with the strengths of San Jose State University’s MSW program. This demonstrates the candidate’s purposeful choice of program and their understanding of how it will support their career objectives.
Flow and Clarity : The essay is well-structured, with each paragraph transitioning smoothly into the next, maintaining a clear and engaging narrative throughout.

Verdict: The statement presents a well-rounded, sincere, and focused candidate with a clear vision for their future in social work. It makes a strong case for their admission.

Example 7: Wayne State University MSW Personal Statement Sample

Your statement must address the following items:

The National Association of Social Workers set forth important guiding principles to address social workers’ ethical responsibility to clients, colleagues, employers and employing organizations, the social work profession, and society.
Describe how these ethical standards would shape your professional social work practice. How would you reconcile any conflicts between your personal values and the requirements of the profession?
Describe why you believe you are a good fit with the mission of the Wayne State University School of Social Work, particularly its urban mission.
Social workers are committed to social justice. Please describe your thoughts on a particular social and economic justice issue and how you intend to use your professional social work degree to address these issues.

As an African American with Native American roots, I have firsthand experience with the challenges faced by underserved communities. This background has deeply influenced my desire to pursue social work, driven by a belief in compassion, commitment, and competence. I aim to amplify my impact in this field by enhancing my skills, and I believe the MSW program at Wayne State University is the ideal setting for this growth.

My life in Detroit has exposed me to the myriad challenges of urban environments, from food deserts to unsafe public spaces and high crime rates. The city’s struggle with deindustrialization has led to job losses, property abandonment, and heightened poverty, which I believe positions me uniquely for Wayne’s urban mission. Understanding these issues firsthand, I feel equipped to contribute meaningfully to solutions.

In my current role with a youth assistance program, I work to prevent youths from entering the juvenile system and help rehabilitate those already involved. Our sessions include group counseling, academic enrichment, and life skills training, aimed at early intervention to improve life quality and academic performance.

My practice as a social worker is grounded in the ethical standards set forth by the National Association of Social Workers. I prioritize service above self-interest, as evidenced by my role as a Direct Care Worker for my sister with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I am committed to social justice and understand the importance of dignity and respect for every individual, regardless of their background. My experience with Wayne State University’s XXXXXX program has further reinforced the value of human relationships in social work.

I recognize the potential conflicts between personal values and professional responsibilities. In such cases, I intend to adhere to the profession’s ethical standards, ensuring that my personal beliefs do not hinder my ability to serve clients effectively.

The Wayne State University School of Social Work’s urban mission resonates with my experiences and aspirations. My understanding of Detroit’s unique challenges aligns with the school’s focus on urban social work. I am particularly interested in addressing issues of poverty and economic disparity, leveraging my post-masters degree to initiate impactful programs like fundraisers for low-income students and collaborations with local food banks.

I am aware of the challenges in understanding certain aspects of social work, such as the dynamics of gang involvement. To address this, I plan to engage in continuous learning about various community issues to enhance my ability to serve diverse populations effectively.

My journey has not been without its challenges. While I have been actively involved in addressing the needs of victims of gang violence, I recognize a gap in my understanding of gang culture. To bridge this gap, I am committed to learning more about gang dynamics, history, and the socioeconomic factors that influence gang membership. This knowledge will be crucial in my work with at-risk youth, allowing me to provide more targeted and effective interventions.

Balancing the demands of graduate studies with work, family, and financial responsibilities will be challenging, but my experience in the Wayne State University XXXXX program has equipped me with valuable skills in time management and prioritization. I am prepared to fully commit to the MSW program, confident that it will transform me into an impactful social work professional aligned with Wayne State’s mission.

Alignment with University’s Mission : The statement effectively aligns the student’s personal and professional experiences with Wayne State University’s urban mission.
Ethical Awareness : Demonstrates a clear understanding of social work ethics and a commitment to upholding these standards in practice.
Conflict Resolution : Thoughtfully addresses potential conflicts between personal values and professional responsibilities, indicating maturity and professional readiness.
Commitment to Social Justice : Shows a strong dedication to social justice, particularly in addressing economic disparities and poverty.
Continuous Learning : Emphasizes a willingness to learn and grow, especially in areas like understanding gang dynamics, which is crucial for effective social work.
Personal Experiences : Successfully uses personal experiences to illustrate a deep understanding of the challenges faced by underserved communities.
Realistic Approach : Acknowledges and prepares for the challenges of balancing graduate studies with other life responsibilities.

Verdict: The applicant shows a strong alignment with the program’s focus, demonstrates ethical awareness, and possesses a clear commitment to social justice and continuous learning. The statement shows maturity and readiness for the challenges of graduate study in social work.

Example 8: University of Pittsburg MSW Personal Statement Sample

Please describe in your personal statement the following:

Influences in your life that led you to select social work as a profession
Why you are applying to the University of Pittsburg School of Social Work
How an MSW will help you achieve your career goals
Your special skills and abilities, your strengths as well as your limitations
How your abilities will contribute to your development as a professional social worker
Discuss a contemporary issue that is of concern to you

Printed on my grandfather’s funeral brochure was an old Irish proverb: “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.” This sentiment has resonated with me deeply, as I have experienced significant loss in my life, from cancer to accidents and suicide. These experiences have not only shaped my understanding of grief but also steered me towards a career in social work, specifically in gerontology and hospice care.

During my final quarter at XXXXXXX State College, I met a hospice social worker whose impact on families dealing with end-of-life situations was profound. Her approach to helping families accept, celebrate life, and find peace in farewells deeply inspired me. It was then that I realized the power of social work in providing comfort and dignity in life’s final stages.

I am applying to the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work because of its strong gerontology program and its commitment to addressing contemporary issues like the impact of COVID-19 on the aging population. The pandemic has starkly highlighted the disparities in our healthcare system, especially concerning end-of-life care. I aim to contribute to this field by developing solutions to these emerging challenges, ensuring dignity and comfort for all in their final moments, regardless of their racial or socioeconomic status.

My work experience in childcare and hospitality has equipped me with patience, empathy, and a strong work ethic, qualities essential for a career in social work. Additionally, my volunteer work with XXXXXXX and the XXXXXXX has given me valuable experience in community service. However, I recognize my tendency to be overly trusting as a limitation. In the field of social work, discernment is crucial, and I am actively working on balancing empathy with professional objectivity.

At the University of Pittsburgh, I am particularly interested in courses like Grief and Loss: Interventions, Implications, and Understanding, and Direct Practice with Older Adults. These courses, coupled with field education in aging, hospice, or hospital settings, will be instrumental in achieving my career goals.

My commitment to serving the Pittsburgh community stems from my deep-rooted connection to the city. Witnessing the impact of the university’s alumni in the field has further motivated me to pursue my MSW here. I am fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead in the field of social work, but I am confident that the guidance and training offered by the University of Pittsburgh will equip me to tackle these challenges effectively.

My personal experiences with loss, combined with my professional aspirations and commitment to social justice, make me a suitable candidate for the MSW program. I am eager to contribute my skills, work ethic, and unique perspectives to the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work and to grow into a compassionate and effective social worker.

Connection of Personal Experience to Career Choice : Effectively links personal encounters with loss to a passion for social work, particularly in gerontology and hospice care.
Alignment with Program’s Strengths : Clearly identifies why the University of Pittsburgh’s program, with its focus on gerontology, is a strong fit for the candidate’s career goals.
Discussion of Contemporary Issues : Addresses the impact of COVID-19 on the aging population, showing awareness of current challenges in social work.
Self-awareness and Growth : Acknowledges personal limitations, like being overly trusting, and the intention to work on balancing empathy with professional objectivity.
Relevant Skills and Experience : Highlights experiences in childcare, hospitality, and volunteer work, which showcase skills valuable in social work.

Verdict: The statement demonstrates a clear connection between personal experiences and professional aspirations. It aligns effectively with the program’s focus, displays awareness of current social issues, and shows a commitment to personal growth- making the candidate a strong fit for the University of Pittsburgh’s MSW program.

Example 9: Case Western Reserve University MSW Personal Statement Sample

Discuss significant factors influencing your decision to pursue a Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA).

Your essay should include information regarding your interest in the social work profession, your intended concentration/specialization, and career goals.
Please reflect on how any past school, community, volunteer, professional work, and leadership experiences will contribute to your success as a graduate student.
Describe how you see yourself contributing to the vibrancy of our student body and school community.
Describe any strengths or limitations that might influence you being successful in your field placement.
Finally, please include why the Mandel School is a good fit for your educational goals.

My decision to pursue a Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) at the Mandel School is deeply rooted in personal and professional experiences that have highlighted the profound impact of social work. My journey began with observing the complexities of mental health within my family, which instilled in me a passion for understanding and advocating for mental health care.

Growing up, I watched a beloved family member struggle with mental health challenges. Witnessing their battle and the ripple effect it had on our family stirred in me a resolve to support others facing similar trials. This resolve only deepened with the birth of my daughter, Eve, when I encountered my postpartum mood disorders. Through receiving treatment and support, I was empowered to overcome these challenges, which further fueled my aspiration to assist women grappling with similar issues.

In my professional role as a Health Coach and Personal Trainer, I’ve had the privilege of supporting clients like John and Anna, whose mental well-being was intertwined with their physical health goals. These experiences have honed my ability to listen empathetically and devise holistic approaches to wellness that I believe will be invaluable in my social work practice.

My immediate career goal is to establish a private practice focused on women’s mental health, particularly addressing postpartum mood disorders. I am inspired to create a space where women can seek help without stigma or silence. In the long term, I aspire to influence mental health policy, advocating for accessible care and support systems that recognize and address the silent struggles many women face.

The Mandel School’s commitment to academic excellence and its vibrant student body resonate with my educational and professional ethos. The school’s innovative approach to social work education, particularly in mental health, makes it an exceptional fit for my aspirations. My compassion, coupled with my professional experience and personal journey through mental health challenges, will contribute to the rich tapestry of the Mandel School community.

Ultimately, I envision my time at the Mandel School as a transformative experience that will not only deepen my understanding of social work but also equip me with the skills to make significant contributions to the field. With a community that fosters diversity of thought and experience, I am confident that my educational journey here will prepare me for a fulfilling and impactful career in social work.

Personal Connection : The statement effectively establishes a personal connection to social work through the candidate’s family experiences with mental health.
Professional Relevance : It highlights relevant work experience that translates well into social work competencies, particularly in understanding clients’ holistic needs.
Clear Career Objectives : The candidate articulates well-defined short-term and long-term goals that align with their personal experiences and professional aspirations.
School Alignment : There is a strong emphasis on how the Mandel School’s ethos resonates with the candidate’s goals, suggesting a thoughtful choice in their application.
Contribution to Community : The statement outlines how the candidate’s unique experiences and compassion will add value to the student body and fieldwork.

Verdict: The candidate’s personal statement is compelling, demonstrating a strong, authentic motivation for pursuing an MSSA and a clear vision for how the Mandel School will help fulfill their career objectives.

Example 10: University of Pittsburg MSW Personal Statement Sample

Influences in your life that led you to select social work as a profession.
Why you are applying to Pitt’s School of Social Work.
How an MSW will help you achieve your career goals.
How your abilities will contribute to your development as a professional social worker.
discuss a contemporary issue that is of concern to you.

At just seven years old, I witnessed the harsh realities of poverty, domestic violence, and addiction within my family. These experiences instilled in me a passion for social work, especially after seeing how social workers supported our family through my parents’ mental health and addiction challenges. This inspired me to pursue a career in this field to use my background and skills gained from an MSW program to assist individuals and families in their recovery processes.

Growing up, our family was caught up in a custody battle, leading my siblings and me to frequently navigate foster care and courtrooms. My parents’ struggle with addiction was alleviated by the support of social workers and case managers, who provided housing, food assistance, service coordination, and counseling. Tragically, both my parents eventually succumbed to drug overdoses. Though painful, these experiences further reinforced my commitment to social work and helping others facing similar struggles.

In recent years, I have been actively involved in social justice activism. My roles as a community organizer and development director for XXXXX Summer Camp, a non-profit empowering girls and non-binary youth through music and mentorship, highlighted the need for improved mental and behavioral health services. Volunteering as a delivery driver and food packager with XXXXX Aid during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of community support for those in need.

My experience in event coordination, donor relationship building, and electoral campaign work has enabled me to contribute to meaningful change in my community, such as the successful XXXXX Wage initiative in Oregon, which improved the lives of countless workers. Serving on the XXXXX Democratic Committee for Ward Four, I have amplified community voices and supported candidates who advocate for accessible mental and behavioral health services, safe and affordable housing, and environmental protection.

A contemporary issue that concerns me is the effectiveness of harm reduction techniques in treating mental health and dual-diagnosis clients. I aim to explore how these techniques can be integrated into traditional substance abuse treatment models to better meet the mental health needs of individuals like my parents. Additionally, I am interested in how mental health professionals and addiction treatment providers can collaborate to provide comprehensive care for dual-diagnosis clients.

Obtaining an MSW will empower me to become a skilled, compassionate, and trauma-informed clinician. My goal is to contribute to accessible mental and behavioral health services, particularly for trauma survivors, and advocate for inclusive, culturally responsive, and restorative justice practices.

I am empathetic and easily connect with people, and my resilience in adversity will contribute to my development as a professional social worker. These qualities have supported me in helping my sister Cheyan and in my social justice work.

I chose the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work for its highly-ranked program and specialization in mental health. This program aligns with my goal of employing harm reduction strategies for dual-diagnosis clients. Additionally, its proximity to my family will enable me to support them while pursuing my education.

I am eager to return to the University of Pittsburgh and embark on this transformative journey to become a professional social worker. The MSW program will enable me to make a significant difference in the lives of those who need compassionate and trauma-informed care. I am confident that this program will honor my family’s legacy and empower me to create positive change for countless individuals and families in need.

Personal Experience as a Motivation : The applicant compellingly uses their personal history of overcoming poverty, domestic violence, and addiction to demonstrate a deep-rooted motivation for pursuing social work.
Community Involvement : The statement highlights significant community engagement and activism, showcasing a commitment to social justice and change.
Professional Development : Details about event coordination, campaign involvement, and leadership roles show the applicant’s ability to effect change and work collaboratively.
Academic and Career Goals : The applicant clearly articulates their interest in harm reduction techniques and their intent to enhance their skills through the MSW program.
Personal Qualities : Empathy and resilience are emphasized as strengths that will aid in their development as a social worker.

Verdict: The statement presents a well-rounded candidate with a powerful personal connection to social work, backed by active community involvement and clear professional goals. Their commitment to addressing complex social issues, coupled with their personal strengths, shines throughout the statement.

Before you go…

You should be inspired enough to craft your authentic MSW personal statement. But you still need experienced eyes to deeply review it for flow, tone, logical structure, and clarity! See how I can help you below…

I will proofread, polish, edit any personal statement, college application essay or sop.

Social Work Personal Statement Guide (w/Examples)

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5 hacks for your social work personal statement

0 comments

So, you want to get into social work.

Hold on… it’s not that easy.

But you are in the right place.

In this article, we will show you how to write a personal statement.

Then we will show you an example of the social work personal statement.

In applying for social work, you will need to write a personal statement that explains why you want to study social work.

How to write a social work personal statement

1. set a deadline for your personal statement..

No work will ever be perfect. Yet we often fall into the fallacy of writing and rewriting, editing and re-editing. We think we can make the perfect personal statement that will land us in social work.

We can’t make it perfect. Before you start writing, you need to know when you have to stop and submit.

There is a saying in Chinese that goes, 画蛇添足. It tells the story of an art competition. During that competition, an artist, in his quest for perfection, ended up adding legs to his painting of a snake. Naturally, he lost.

The moral of the story is that there will never be a perfect picture, or perfect personal statement. What matters is that you have tried.

Start writing your personal statement.

Often, our quest for perfection or plain procrastination stops us from writing. We try planning in detail, without actually writing. In my experience, I was pushed for time.

I had been awarded a scholarship, but no university place offered to me. Due to the urgency of the matter, I had to write quickly. I had to submit.

There was no time to think.

In much the same way, rather than spending too much time thinking, simply start writing. Writing has a magical way of sorting out your thoughts. You can always come back to edit it thereafter.

Include real-life examples of why you want to study social work.

As you can see below, I included examples from my own experiences being helped by a social worker and helping others as a volunteer. The truth is: facts tell, stories sell. Stories give the applications panel another side to you.

They make you real.

In writing your stories, be clear about what your role was. What did you contribute? What did you do? What was your impact? Did anyone praise you?

Secondly, link it to the wider motivation for social work. What did your experience teach you? How did it push you to decide on a career in social work?

Edit your personal statement.

Grammatical and spelling mistakes are a no-no. they show that you have not spent as much effort as you should have on your personal statement. When editing, print out a copy of your personal statement, and then read it out loud.

Reading it out aloud helps you to hear the arguments. It lets you see if the arguments make sense, flow well, and are cogently linked together.

Give your personal statement to someone else to read.

I was fortunate to have a friend who was a social worker. She agreed to read my personal statement. From that reading, she gave me valuable feedback on what I could improve on.

Having someone else to read removes our blind spots. Having interacted so much with your personal statement, you might be too emotionally invested in it to remove parts that are not as good.

Therefore, having someone else helps to make your essay much better.

Example of social work personal statement

This was the personal statement I wrote that eventually allowed me to be accepted into the University of Nottingham’s BA Social Work course.

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Indeed, I have come to see how a life well-lived is one through which we give out of the largesse of our hearts. With a desire to engender positive change in the society around me, contributing to the community that has nurtured me, studying social work develops the expertise needed to aid the communities around me.

Why social work?

My desire to study social work stems from a wish to help people deal with the befuddling complexities of life, for which there is often no proper problem solving method, and certainly no correct answer.

What piqued my interest in social work was a first-hand encounter with social workers, who inspired me to take up social work myself.

In college, I remembered seeing my mother bent over the toilet bowl, vomiting out the remains of her previous meal.

Days later, she was stripped of her once lustrous, beautiful hair.

Watching my mother buried under blankets, trying to keep warm, I was overcome by a sense of helplessness.

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in June.

The months after were a harrowing experience. So often used to the pillar of strength my mother represented, to see her reduced to such a state, ravaged by the destruction of cancer, terrified and frightened me. As the eldest in the family, I had to take on additional responsibilities at home on top of my academic workload. It was arduous juggling the various obligations. There were times when exhaustion overtook me, causing me to fall asleep in my uniform, waking up only to fight another day.

However, I was fortunate to have the guidance of a social worker, who helped me regain emotional balance. She enabled me to stand on my own two feet again, anchoring myself in the midst of the changes that were happening around me.

Just as I have been so helped, I desire to offer lifebuoys of aid to others.

I want to assist them in finding greater emotional stability and eventually soaring towards a more fulfilling life.

My experience

Intrigued by the complexities of social work, I joined YGOS, a welfare organization reaching out to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds, as an intern.

There, I worked with youths who were doing poorly academically and exhibiting behavioral problems.

I enjoyed the opportunity I had to personally mentor these youths, working closely with them to improve their academic grades and attitude towards learning.

Having a hand in molding them positively, revealed the possibilities that social work offered in eliciting real change in the community around me.

The myriad of opportunities that an overseas education offers me excites me. Exposure to a different welfare system will further my perspectives on the various welfare models in the world, and broaden my horizons on the pros and cons that each welfare system inherently possesses. Studying overseas will push me out of my comfort zone, forcing me to live independently. Experiencing another culture, environment, and country will open my eyes to the diversity in the world.

I begin seeing the world in a different lens.

Beyond school, I volunteer regularly with the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore.

In one of my earliest experiences volunteering, I was teaching a boy to write the alphabet “A”.

After struggling for thirty minutes, he threw up his arms, exclaiming,

“I don’t know how to write this!”

For him, the writing of such a simple alphabet had already prompted so much difficulty. It was a reminder that in the search for the academic “A”s in our lives, it is such a blessing to even have the chance to search.

Volunteering regularly has equipped me with empathy, which will aid me in better understanding my clients’ needs, finding lasting solutions for them.

Through social work, I hope to impact the world, shaping it, one person at a time, community by community, walking with my clients through some of their darkest emotional tunnels, and helping them to find the light again.

I hope these social work personal statement examples help you to craft your personal statement better. If you need more help, please look at advice I wrote on writing better personal statements.

You can also write to me at [email protected] .

All the best!

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Social work personal statement basics

According to University Campus Suffolk social work admissions tutor Martin Fookes, talking about your personality should not be the dominant feature of your personal statement. It’s your understanding of what social work is all about, and how you reflect on your experiences, skills, and prior reading that will indicate whether or not you are sufficiently well-prepared.

Here are some more tips gathered from tutors (with special thanks to staff at Anglia Ruskin, Leeds, Portsmouth, and Sheffield Hallam Universities, and University Campus Suffolk). You won't be able to cover them all, but they will help you to focus your application, or perhaps to see what you need to do to strengthen it.

Your knowledge of social work

Your statement should demonstrate an understanding of what social work as a profession is all about – along with the skills, knowledge, and experience you will bring to it.
Discuss what you’ve learned or what's inspired you from relevant books, magazines, websites, documentaries, or social issues reported in the media, but perhaps steer away from talking about popular literature.
Going to university open days or conferences and talking to students and tutors will offer you some extra insights into the course.
It’s okay to talk about personal experiences that shaped your interest in the degree, especially if you’re a mature applicant, but be prepared to talk openly about it at interview .
Don't focus your interest on a narrow or specialist area of social work, but show a willingness to engage with issues that span the entire spectrum of society, including the elderly.

Relevant work and extra-curricular experience

Make the most of every opportunity to gain experience of supporting people: in care homes, community schemes, youth clubs, play schemes, holiday clubs, after-school clubs, nurseries, mentoring, anti-bullying schemes, or working with the elderly or people with a disability.
Always demonstrate what you’ve learned from your experience, and how it has helped you develop appropriate skills or qualities.
Talk to social workers about the work they do, what they like about it, and what recent developments have impacted on their work, and reflect on this in your statement.
Relevant transferable skills from employment or extra-curricular activities could also be worth mentioning.

The right skills and qualities for social work

Demonstrate your resilience and the ability to analyse situations critically.
You should also be able to show values of non-discriminatory behaviour and an understanding of the effects of disadvantage in society.
Do also reflect on an aspect of your academic learning, and explain what it has taught you about social work, or any appropriate skills it has helped you develop – and if it’s relevant to you, perhaps mention barriers you've overcome yourself.
Think about solid illustrative examples of your skills in action, especially if those skills are relevant to social work – organisation, committment, motivation, being able to work effectively with others, and so on.
Try to avoid clichés – say more than just 'I have a passion for helping people' or 'I am a people person,' by demonstrating how and why. This is a career that will require you to work objectively within professional boundaries.

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Social work personal statements

On this page you'll find a collection of real personal statements written by students applying to study social work and related courses at university.

These personal statements are written by real students - don't expect them all to be perfect! But by reading through a few of these samples, you'll be able to get some ideas and inspiration for your own personal statement.

Social work personal statement examples

More help with your personal statement.

You can find personal statement examples for other courses by using this subject list, or by returning to our personal statements by subject page.

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How to Craft Your Social Work Personal Statement (And Why You Should)

Sharing is caring.

A bad social work personal statemen t can ruin your chances of gaining admission to a UK university to pursue a social work degree programme.

It can make or break your application so you need to make it perfect!

Research shows that a common problem with writing social work personal statements is poor structure and failure to highlight relevant skills/experience. So,

What is a Social Work Personal Statement?

A social work personal statement entails writing a personal essay about yourself, educational, and career goals.

Your social work personal statement should include experiences and anything else relevant to application for admission into a social work programme.

The statement is part of a larger, more comprehensive application requirement.

Therefore, a social worker uses the personal statement to communicate to the admission board.

The social work personal statement for university admission is a chance for you to explain why you want to study social work, your experience and skills that show you will commit to the programme.

In the UK, when applying for a place at a university to study social work, you submit your personal statement alongside the university application via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

How Should I Structure my Social Work Personal Statement?

Your personal statement should follow a methodical structure where there is a flow in your presentation.

You can use headings to break up the text in each section if you prefer.

Paragraphs should follow seamlessly using the following structure.

Introduction
Middle Content

What Should a Social Work Personal Statement Include?

A social work, personal statement should contain the standard application information such as;

Contact number
Relevant qualifications
Standardised test scores
Any information on a higher education taster course that you may have taken part in
Personal circumstances that may have affected your educational performance.
Whether you encountered any financial hardships during your studies or whether you received a bursary to cover the cost of your education
Clubs and societies that you belong to which may sport or creative, etc
Reasons for applying for social work and include any of your ambitions and interests
Employment experiences or any volunteering work that you may have done.
Why you are suitable or deserve a place i.e. this may be due to experience gained from work or achievements on work.
Any skills and qualities that you may have – include essential social work skills such as organisation, communication, critical thinking, time management and multi-tasking.
Your preparation – highlight courses you may have taken to prepare you for the social work programme.
Add any volunteering work you may have done to prepare for your application.
Give examples where possible to evidence relevant skills and knowledge that will enable you to make an impact in the social work department.

What Should you Put on a Personal Statement?

A personal statement summarises who you are and therefore it should have your strengths and any relevant work experience.

A personal statement should include the education you’ve got and any skills that you may have gained.

The skills gained may be teamwork, time management, or organisational skills.

Include hobbies and interests that show skills relevant to what you are applying for e.g. being a team leader in a care home shows leadership skills.

How Do You Introduce Yourself in a Personal Statement?

A perfect introduction on a personal statement is one that helps your reader to learn essential details about you.

When writing the introduction part of your social worker’s personal statement, ensure the section portrays a positive image of yourself.

Your introduction should be enthusiastic and should highlight why you want to pursue a social work degree programme.

Otherwise, the reader may not be interested to read further if there is any negativity in the introduction.

Therefore, while introducing yourself in a personal statement,

Explain who you are
What you do, and all the positive information the reader needs to know about you.
Be logical and use brief paragraphs.
Be succinct and clear.

What Should You Put in the Middle Paragraphs of a Personal Statement

Your middle paragraphs should be engaging.

Go in-depth about yourself, your experiences and aspirations.

These may include:

Any of your own experience with social work.
Any volunteering experience or relevant work in social work
A summary of why you are interested in social work
Mention the precise area of interest within social work you want to pursue example children or adult.
Include your career aspirations
Any reasons you think you will perform well in the social work program.
Why you choose social work program
Your strengths
Whether you understand the demands, a career in social work will put in your life and emotions.
How you plan on managing such demands.

Do not forget to mention why the program is right for you and how you intend to use skills learnt from it in the future.

What Should You Put in the Conclusion of a Personal Statement?

So how do you end a social work personal statement?

The conclusion of your personal statement should;

Concentrate on the fundamental idea in a brief style.
It should have the summary of the key ideas in short form and your plans.
Brief and remember to summarise why you are the ideal candidate.
Overall, aim for three or five paragraphs.
Thank the admission team for considering your application and bring it to a close.

What Not to Talk About in a Personal statement.

Any personal exploits which may be unrelated to your educational and professional goals should not be in the personal statement. This is because they may shine an unflattering light on you.
You should not include the application information in the personal statement. This is to avoid a repetition of answers requested on application forms.
Don’t lie or exaggerate in a personal statement because they may discover the falsifications during the interview process.
Don’t complain about past educational experiences or circumstances that have caused difficulties. This is because evaluators are likely to respond to positive personal statements.
Avoid irrelevant digression in your personal statement since it’s an opportunity to write about your educational and professional goals.
Avoid mentioning other people – this means you should only focus on yourself and not what others who may have worked with have achieved.

Top Tips For Writing a Strong Personal Statement

1. stay focused while writing the personal statement.

You should keep in mind the core purpose of the personal statement.

The personal statement should just provide information to help others understand who you are.

2. Structure your personal statement

A personal statement with too much text makes a reader bored, and a little one makes you look lazy.

Your paragraphs should also flow effortlessly and logically.

3. Be original

Be creative and detailed in your personal statement without losing focus to avoid stereotyped sentences.

4. Think of what you want to gain

Linking your ambitions towards what you want to gain shows your drive and passion and also ensures your application is unique.

5. Be positive

You should talk positively about the course and yourself.

This will help in conveying your passion and enthusiasm.

6. Proofread your personal statement

Proofreading your work is a vital last step because you correct spelling and grammatical errors.

Asking help from friends and family members will help.

This is because a sloppy personal statement may cost you your place for admission.

Draft your personal statement and ask a family member or friend to proofread it.

7. Give yourself plenty of time

Try to give yourself ample time for writing your social work personal statement.

If your reader identifies an unstructured, poorly constructed personal statement, it will immediately put you at a disadvantage.

That is why giving yourself time to proofread is important to avoid mistakes.

In addition, familiarise yourself with what you’ve written before any interviews.

Tips To Write a Killer Personal Statement

social work personal statement for university application

Give yourself enough time
Organise your thoughts so that you have a plan before you write the personal statement.
Know what they expect of you
Don’t use the same personal statement for every university application – you may have the same interview panel!
Let our personality shine through the application by making your personal statement interesting
Show genuine interest and passion in your application as this is the key to standing out
Tell them the reasons they should choose you by presenting yourself in a positive light.
Use excellent grammar and punctuation
Proofread your writing
Use a professional tone of voice

What is the Good Length for a Personal Statement

Before writing your personal statement, check the application guidelines for word count.

If they don’t specify the word count, keep it short between 250-500 words, which is equivalent to one side of A4.

Some universities require two sides of the A4, which is 500-900 words.

By following all the above tips your social work personal statement will surely stand out among all the others.

You should include the standard application information and an overview of who you are in the social work personal statement.

Demonstrable interest in social work practice, perhaps including some references of books you have read.

Evidence your commitment, skills and desire to pursue a social work degree qualification.

An excellent social work personal statement will create a positive impression.

It will help you show the admissions board that you are right for the social work course.

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Guide to Effective Social Work Personal Statements

Table of Contents

A social worker is someone who helps people navigate life’s challenges. They use a variety of skills, including emotional intelligence, communication, and problem-solving, to help people achieve their goals.

Social workers help clients understand how circumstances impact them and offer support and guidance to create positive change in their lives. If you need help crafting a social worker personal statement , don’t fret. You’re in the right place.

Understanding Personal Statements

Personal statements are short paragraphs that showcase a person’s values, qualities, and character . They are important in all applications, whether job or college.

The rationale behind personal statements is they help recruiters understand an applicant better. Personal statements are less about writing skills and more about effectively representing your best traits. Even so, many people still have a difficult time writing effective statements.

Don’t get discouraged if you count among them. Here are some tips to help you write a compelling social work personal statement.

Tips for Writing a Social Work Personal Statement

Social work personal statements don’t have to be difficult. You need only follow a few rules to deliver a compelling representation of your values and character.

Start by Introducing Your Passion

Begin your social work personal statement like any other essay. – With a compelling introduction.

Whether you’re applying to a university program or a job, recruiters will care about your passion and dedication to social work. Your first statement should show your connection to the field and your willingness to study.

Use Clear, Concise Language

Your personal statement’s main purpose is to give recruiters a glimpse of your personality . Clear, concise language is the best way to deliver a strong message and allow readers to accurately understand your thoughts.

While you can add Social Work jargon, make sure to limit them. You wouldn’t want to muddle your message by overusing them.

Give Specific Illustrative Examples

Specific examples are key to showcasing your value and passion as a social worker. Specific examples also give the reader an idea of your social work experience and which cases you can handle. Remember that the most life-changing experiences will always have the most vivid details.

Leverage Emotion

Social work can get extremely stressful. For someone to forego expressing their emotions can be strange, given a social worker’s exposure to the harsh realities of the job. Don’t be afraid to show how your experiences made you feel and how they changed you.

Showing your emotions makes for an authentic personal statement that is more likely to capture attention.

Proofread Your Work

Finally, take the time to go through your work. While mistakes are far from a reason to disqualify your application, they can hurt the impression you leave. Check your work for any spelling and grammatical errors and correct them accordingly.

Social Worker Personal Statement Samples

four person hands wrap around shoulders while looking at sunset

I am an experienced social worker, and my years of practice have instilled in me the capacity to comprehend individuals’ unique situations and needs. I can remain empathetic while maintaining a practical approach to problem-solving.

Additionally, I have developed the ability to exercise diplomacy in difficult conversations. This has been essential for fostering relationships between service providers and community members.

I am confident that I possess the necessary experience and skill set to be an asset to any organization.

I aim to pursue a career in Social Work. I believe that gaining a degree from a reputable university is the best way to start my journey. My current role involves working with families in vulnerable home situations, guiding them through what can be an incredibly difficult process. This has given me first-hand experience of the positive impact that social work can have on people’s lives. I’ve also learned the importance of understanding both sociology and psychology when it comes to providing support.

I am passionate about developing my skills and learning more to offer better care to those who need it most. I’m confident that a Social Work graduate course at a good university would give me the tools I need. It will also equip me with the necessary knowledge for different roles within the field.

I look forward to continuing my studies and establishing a successful career where I can help make life better for disadvantaged families. I will apply all of my enthusiasm, dedication, and hard work to achieve this.

I have been working with children for years, helping them face the day-to-day issues of their health and well-being. Through my professional experience in a variety of roles, I have helped people from diverse backgrounds. They’ve learned to open up, read pages that changed lives, and play together as a group.

They know they can rely on me.

This has given me an invaluable opportunity to pursue social work in graduate school. Here, I am confident I can help more people in need and hone my craft even further. Knowing some require assistance is humbling yet empowering. It drives me to better myself daily to be fully equipped to make a positive impact.

As a Social Work student, I have committed myself to the well-being of children for years. My experience in working with them has given me invaluable insight into how best to approach them and provide the care they require.

While not every situation is the same, my listening capacity lets me quickly ascertain each child’s circumstances. As such, it brings me great pleasure to make meaningful contributions toward empowering these vulnerable members of society.

As a social work student, I have deeply invested in advancing the well-being of underserved communities. With unwavering commitment and compassion, I strive to provide support for those who are facing difficult circumstances.

As a lifelong learner and advocate for the marginalized, I work to refine my knowledge and develop innovative social work strategies.

A social worker personal statement is a relatively easy task as long as you follow a set structure and apply our tips. Always remember the purpose of your content, and write with purpose. May you have a prosperous social work career!

Guide to Effective Social Work Personal Statements

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How to write an effective personal statement for a social work job

Many people incorporate a short personal statement at the top of their cv, but social work employers may ask for more. jonathan coxon, managing director of social work recruitment consultancy liquid personnel, gives six tips on how to sell yourself..

When applying for a social work job, you may be asked to write a covering letter or separate personal statement to accompany your application. More likely you will be asked to complete a specific application form for the employer, which will include a question along the lines of: “Please give your reasons for applying for this job and what you will bring to the team.” Here are six top tips on how to showcase your ability: 1. One size does not fit all One personal statement is not suitable for multiple applications – your statement should be tailored to each role you are applying for. Refer closely to the job description, the person specification – including any essential and desirable requirements – and any other relevant guidance provided by the employer. Focus on clearly explaining how your experience and skills will fulfil and exceed their requirements. 2. Demonstrate your knowledge with facts Don’t just make broad statements. It’s not sufficient to say: “I have a strong working knowledge of child protection procedures.” Instead, back this up with meaningful examples, such as: “I have worked in a child protection team for X months”, “I have completed a placement in a local authority child protection team”, “I have received additional training in recognising signs of abuse and neglect”, “I have held a caseload of X child protection cases”, or “I can conduct section 47 investigations to a high standard.” 3. Be concise and explicit Avoid waffle and ensure you put your points across in a concise way, keeping your statement relevant to the job in question. Rather than just describing your skills and experience, explain exactly why this is relevant to the organisation and how they will benefit from employing you. 4. Take your time Draft your personal statement carefully. If you’re filling in an application form, don’t just start writing directly onto the form – plan your answer first. Remember that this is one of your best chances to showcase your skills during the application process. Employers will have to read a massive selection of applications and CVs from potential new recruits, so yours needs to stand out and sell yourself well. There is a good chance that the job you’re applying for will involve written work (e.g. report writing), so your statement will provide the employer with a very clear indication of your written skills. This is another reason to plan carefully and check thoroughly. 5. Show you care Express your enthusiasm for the role and use positive language. One of the most important qualities for a social worker is a genuine desire to support other people, so make sure this comes across in your writing. 6. Remember the basics Read any instructions carefully and stick to the rules set out by the employer. Check if there is a word limit and whether you are allowed to use additional pages for your answer. Finally, and crucially, check your spelling and grammar thoroughly and ask someone else to take a look for you.

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Money blog: Pound soars against euro and dollar - here's why and what it means for holidays

Sterling has reached a more than two-year high against the euro, buying €1.20. Pound strength is also seen against the dollar with £1 equal to $1.3374, a rate last seen in March 2022. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news below in the Money blog.

Tuesday 24 September 2024 19:00, UK

Pound reaches two-year high against euro in boost for holidaymakers
Liverpool council leader hints at tourist tax plan
Energy companies providing £150 discount for your electricity bills

Essential reads

'Menopause is the new vegan' - The two women trying to transform supermarket shelves
Freehold vs leasehold - what do they mean?

Tips and advice

All benefits and entitlements available to pensioners
'My neighbour's CCTV faces directly into my home'
How you could minimise impact of budget tax rises

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Research suggests the vast majority of mothers want to return to work after they finish maternity leave.

But reasons such as rising childcare costs, a lack of job flexibility and changes in personal situations mean not all do.

Have you made a financial or career sacrifice to become a stay-at-home parent after finishing mat leave? If so, we'd like to speak to you.

Here's how you can get in touch:

WhatsApp us here
Email [email protected]

Amazon has introduced new packaging for its UK customers in a move aimed at avoiding waste and reducing carbon emissions.

The online retail giant said its new "shock-proof" envelopes featured a lining made purely from paper - unlike the bubble-wrapped packaging used previously.

The envelopes are lighter than their equivalent-sized cardboard boxes and can be recycled at home, the company said.

Amazon said the new packaging had already started arriving on doorsteps, and was designed to protect deliveries "without sacrificing safety or functionality".

Sales of low-alcohol beer rose more in the UK than any other market last year.

IWSR data shared with the Financial Times shows sales of beer with less than 3.5% alcohol doubled from 650,000 hectolitres in 2022 to nearly 1.3 million hectolitres in 2023.

It means the UK market for the products grew more than any other in terms of volume, the FT said.

Venezuela was second on the list for growth, followed by Romania and Japan.

By Alix Culbertson , politics reporter

The government has promised to look at increasing the minimum energy efficiency level required to rent a home by 2030.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband used his keynote speech at Labour's conference to promise to take more than a million renters out of fuel poverty.

He said the government would consult by the end of the year on boosting minimum energy efficiency standards for private and social rented homes by 2030 - helping to reduce bills.

Currently, landlords can rent out private homes if they meet the energy performance certificate E, while social rented homes have no minimum energy efficiency standards.

The government wants to raise that limit to an energy performance certificate C or equivalent by 2030.

Read the full story...

One of Sir Keir Starmer's most senior ministers has appeared to confirm reports that the single person council tax discount will be protected in the budget.

Speculation over where cuts will be made this October began soon after the Labour landslide as the government claimed it had discovered a £22bn black hole left by the previous government.

Reports have surfaced that the 25% discount single occupants won't be compromised.

"I don't think there's any plans to do that," said Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden.

While he wouldn't provide explicit confirmation, when asked by ITV about reports that the single-person discount won't be axed, he replied: "If that's what's been briefed out by the Treasury, that will be the case."

Santander UK is offering homeowners with energy-efficient homes the chance to grab a discounted rate when they come to remortgage.

The bank has launched a range of lower-rate mortgage products for customers who have a property with an EPC (energy performance certificate) rating of A or B.

The products, available on mortgages with 60% to 85% loan-to-value ratios, offer a discount of 0.10 percentage points compared with standard rates.

Sir Keir Starmer has just confirmed the state-owned Great British Energy will be based in Aberdeen.

Labour says it will bring in a green electricity system by 2030 - and, to that end, GB Energy will invest in renewables in conjunction with the private sector.

This, Labour says, will make the UK less reliant on foreign energy and bring down bills.

Sir Keir told the Labout conference: "We said GB Energy - our publicly owned national champion, the vehicle that will drive forward our mission on clean energy - we said it belonged in Scotland. And it does.

"But the truth is, it could only really be based in one place in Scotland."

Aberdeen has been critical for the UK's North Sea oil and gas industry.

Some TSB customers have reported missed payments - in the latest of what seems to be an increasing number of online banking glitches.

Yesterday it was Santander apologising to account holders - while several other banks have endured similar crashes in recent months.

TSB's issues started early this morning with some Bacs (Bankers' Automated Clearing System) payments.

Some customers did not received salaries and child benefit payments.

The bank says the issue is now resolved: "We have fixed the issue with BACS payments and have now credited all customer accounts that were due to receive money into them.

"We would like to apologise to customers that were impacted by this issue."

We've heard lots over recent months about the post-COVID surge in foreign travel abating this year - as people start to begrudge how their so-called revenge spending had led to inflated prices.

But a trading update by Tui suggests there's still some buoyancy in the holiday market.

The firm reported "stronger demand for our wholesale and dynamic packages, translating into +7% more bookings taken".

Tui says it has seen increased sales of what it calls "higher-priced wholesale and dynamic packages".

"We have seen stronger demand year-on-year across all our key short- and medium-haul destinations with the Canaries, Egypt and Cape Verde again proving to be most popular.

"Thailand, Mexico and the Dominican Republic are set to form a key part of our long-haul offering for the winter season."

By Jess Sharp , Money team

More than 15.5 million women in the UK are currently in menopause and searching for ways to alleviate their symptoms.

But with retailers and brands often overlooking their specific demands, women have been left feeling invisible and unconsidered.

Heather Jackson and Sam Simister were two of those women.

"We were sat on a beach actually talking about our perimenopausal journeys and we recognised that we both had different symptoms, but we were both struggling to find an ecosystem that could support us," Heather told Money.

"We are driven, independent women who always search for solutions... and we were actually like, 'Why have we got to this point in our lives and we feel overlooked and underserved by brands we've trusted all our lives?'"

Heather cashed in her leadership business, co-founder Sam left her job at Innocent, and together they set up Gen M.

'What's menopause got to do with us?'

With the market expected to be worth more than $24.4bn by 2030, serving more than one billion women worldwide, Heather said she was determined to make "menopause the new vegan".

She commissioned independent research into the menopause market which found 87% of women had similar feelings to them and 96% wanted a one-stop shop for products.

Heather started approaching brands, inviting them to list their products on a website.

"Every retailer asked, 'What's menopause got to do with us?' We realised we were in a worse situation than we thought.

"It wasn't about us building a site, it was actually that the world was invisible to menopause, yet we were the biggest midlife audience, the 90% decision makers, with the biggest consumer spend, and we weren't being noticed."

The next step was a mission statement, asking brands to commit to making menopause more visible and to better serve those experiencing it.

'We can't afford to lose women economically'

More than 100 brands have now signed up to the Gen M Collective. You might remember reading about one of the latest - Morrisons - in the Money blog a few weeks ago.

The supermarket announced it was introducing new menopause-friendly sections in selected stores.

Other brands that have joined the movement include Boots, Next, Tesco, Holland and Barrett, Simba, Charles Worthington and Revolution Beauty (just to name a few).

"We wanted brands to respect the audience of menopause as they had done for vegans," Heather explained.

"Forty years ago, veganism was a very niche, taboo, punk thing and now it is a vibrant and inclusive marketplace... and that's been grown by brands and retailers purposely understanding the needs of that audience."

Heather said the vegan market represented a 3% global audience - while there was a 20% audience in people going through the change.

"Every woman in the world will enter menopause," she said.

"If you treat this audience like you've done the vegan audience, we can really quite vibrantly, incrementally break taboos, normalise the conversation, and actually make menopause a much more acceptable part of society.

"We can't afford to be losing women economically, and those women can't afford to lose their jobs because they perceive themselves as not being their best versions."

So, what is something consumers will notice?

Similarly to those who remember the vegan boom – Gen M has launched a symbol that immediately tells women they are buying a menopause-friendly product.

The MTick, which you can see below, is a symbol that can be applied to items belonging to brands in the Gen M Collective that have been tested and proved to be menopause-friendly.

Whether that's climate controlled bedsheets, a skin care line or specific electrical equipment, the aim is to help women identify products more easily - while also boosting brand credibility and trust.

In order for companies to use the MTick, their products have to meet set criteria.

Backed by claims - the product must be backed by authorised medicinal, cosmetic and/or health claims for the 48 symptoms and signs of menopause;
Tried and tested - it needs to have been tested by menopausal women in clinical user trials that generate significant statistical evidence for at least one symptom;
Features trialled and verified tech - features, tech and functionality of the product must support a specific symptom;
Trustpilot - the products must be surveyed by a representative number of menopausal women to generate at least a 4-star Trustpilot rating regarding the symptom it alleviates.

'Empowerment - not exploitation'

A study by the University College London found the majority of women only started looking for information about the menopause once their symptoms had started.

Nearly 60% said they got their information from sources other than health professionals (51.1%) and official websites (50.5%).

Many also turned to social media (33.1%) and friends (49.8%) for advice.

The MTick symbol, Heather said, not only makes it easier to spot products that might be helpful in relieving symptoms, but is also designed to "empower" women to make informed decisions for themselves.

"This is not about controlling women. This is about giving them choice," Heather said.

"Let's be honest, we've been exploited since we were 13, applying anti-wrinkle cream to ourselves. We are not victims here, we are sensible, articulate women who can make informed decisions on what we are buying."

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Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

Guide to the Renters’ Rights Bill

Published 11 September 2024

Applies to England

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

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.

Overview of bill measures

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.

Tenancy reform

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.

Periodic tenancies

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.

Grounds for possession

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.

Rent increases

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.

Implementation

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.

Table 1: Grounds for possession

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

Frequently asked questions

How does a private landlord currently evict a tenant .

Under the Housing Act 1988, landlords must serve a legal notice to end a tenancy. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord must go to court, which can instruct bailiffs to enforce eviction.
Currently, a landlord can evict a tenant without providing any reason – a section 21 eviction. This requires the landlord to give the tenant 2 months’ notice. After this, it is always mandatory for the court to order eviction of the tenant if the tenant does not leave during the notice period.
Landlords may also seek possession using section 8 grounds – a list of circumstances defined in law in which a landlord can evict a tenant, for example due to rent arrears. If a tenant does not leave during the notice period, a landlord must prove to a court that the ground applies.

What problems are the reforms intended to solve?

Section 21 means more than 11 million renters in England live day in, day out with the knowledge that they could be uprooted from their home with little notice and minimal justification. This can impact their ability to work or attend school and puts them at risk of homelessness.
Section 21 also means a significant minority of tenants are forced to live in substandard accommodation due to a fear that, if they complain, their landlord can simply evict them in retaliation.
Fixed terms mean tenants are locked in, and must pay rent regardless of whether the property is fit to live in – giving unscrupulous landlords no incentive to complete repairs. They also remove flexibility for both parties to respond to changes in personal circumstances, for example if a tenant wants to move to take up a new job.
Existing tenancy legislation is extremely complex, and tenants and landlords can struggle to understand their rights and responsibilities. Introducing a simpler, more standardised system will help everyone act within the law.

What security does a tenant have under the new system?

The bill will protect tenants from section 21 evictions, and mean landlords can only end tenancies in specific circumstances set out in law, including where the tenant is at fault or if the landlord needs to sell.
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.
We are also expanding protections for tenants who temporarily fall into rent arrears by increasing the mandatory threshold for eviction to 3 months’ arrears from 2 months, alongside other measures.

How will a landlord regain possession in future?

The Renters’ Rights Bill will abolish section 21 evictions, meaning landlords must instead use a section 8 ground for possession – these are specific circumstances in which a landlord can regain possession.
The bill will ensure landlords enjoy robust grounds for possession. The grounds for possession are outlined in ‘Table 1’ above and cover all circumstances when it is reasonable for a landlord to take their property back.
To regain possession, landlords will serve notice in the prescribed form, giving at least the required notice period to the tenant. As in the current system, landlords will need to go to court if a tenant does not leave and provide evidence that the ground applies.

How will a tenant end a tenancy once the reforms are implemented?

A tenant will be able to end a tenancy by giving 2 months’ notice. The end date of the tenancy will need to align with the end of a rent period.

What evidence will a landlord need to provide?

If a tenant does not leave when an eviction notice is served, a landlord will need to provide evidence in court to prove the relevant ground applies. We will issue guidance to support landlords with this.
Courts are best placed to interpret the available evidence depending on the facts of the case, and we do not wish to restrict this role in legislation. As an example, a landlord might show they have instructed an estate agent and solicitor if they wished to prove they were selling a property.

Will a landlord be able to increase rents in the new system?

The government does not support the introduction of rent controls, and nothing in the bill restricts landlords raising rents in line with market prices.
In the new system, all private rented sector rent increases will be made via the statutory ‘section 13’ process, as amended by the bill. This requires a landlord to complete a simple form, which will be published on GOV.UK, and serve this on the tenant.
Once the form is served, the landlord will not have to take further action. If the tenant accepts the proposed rent increase, they simply need to pay the new amount on the next rent day.
A tenant can dispute the increase by applying to the First-tier Tribunal, if they think it is above market rate. This must be before the starting date of the proposed new rent and tenants should notify their landlord that they are doing so. The bill makes changes to the Tribunal system to support tenants in challenging unreasonable rent increases.
Landlords for social rented tenants who meet the definition of “relevant low-cost tenancies” (as defined in the bill) will retain the current mechanisms for increasing rent. This includes increasing the rent at any point in the first 52 weeks of a tenancy and using review clauses within a tenancy to increase the rent, as they can at present.

When will the tenancy reforms be implemented?

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.

How will the new system affect the county court?

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.

How will non-PRS sectors be affected by the new system?

The new tenancy system will be used by landlords outside the private rented sector – including private registered providers (PRPs) of social housing (typically housing associations) and providers of supported accommodation, as well as landlords providing temporary accommodation to homeless households.

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.

We will therefore introduce a limited number of possession grounds to ensure there is an adequate supply of properties in these sectors. This includes vital sectors such as temporary and supported accommodation, and for critical housing schemes such as ‘stepping stone’ accommodation.

Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman

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 ombudsman service will be introduced as soon as possible after Royal Assent. Landlords will be given notice of the date by which they will be required to sign up to the ombudsman service and sufficient time to make appropriate arrangements.
We expect that landlords will likely be required to pay a small annual fee per PRS property. The ombudsman service will set this fee based on the costs of operating an effective service and we will work with them to make sure it is proportionate and good value.

How will a tenant challenge their landlord using the ombudsman service and what powers will it have to help tenants resolve their complaints?

The ombudsman service will independently and impartially investigate tenant complaints. If the service determines that the landlord acted unreasonably or unprofessionally when handling a tenant’s original complaint to the landlord, the ombudsman will be able to tell a landlord to take or cease taking an action, issue an apology or explanation, and/or award compensation to put things right. Landlords who are members of the ombudsman must abide by the ombudsman’s decisions.
We expect tenants will be able to contact the ombudsman online or by telephone and we will work to ensure that all tenants, including those who are vulnerable, can access the service.

What will tenants be able to complain to the ombudsman service about and will prospective and former, as well as current, tenants be able to make complaints?

Broadly, the ombudsman service will consider complaints from tenants regarding actions, inactions or behaviours of a landlord which has caused harm or inconvenience. The types of complaint that the service will consider are not included on the face of the Renters’ Rights Bill so the ombudsman can retain sufficient discretion to consider the individual circumstances of each complaint.
When a property is marketed for letting, the landlord will be required to be a member of the ombudsman service. We will also expect landlords to remain members for a reasonable amount of time once they have stopped being a landlord.
This is because things can go wrong for tenants at any point in the rental process, so it is reasonable for tenants to have the opportunity to seek redress for harm or inconvenience caused during the pre-letting period or at the end of a tenancy.

Will landlords be able to complain to the ombudsman about their tenants?

No, it would be unprecedented and inappropriate for landlords to seek binding decisions from the ombudsman service, which is designed to protect consumer rights. Therefore, only tenants will be able to seek redress from the service.
However, we are committed to ensuring that landlords, like tenants, have appropriate access to alternative dispute resolution. We are exploring options for landlord-initiated mediation for landlords to resolve issued with their tenants.

Will landlords who use an agent to manage their property need to join and how will tenants know where to complaint if their landlord uses a managing agent?

Yes. Landlords who use managing agents are still responsible for their own behaviour and still retain legal obligations to tenants – particularly around standards and repairs.
Landlords and agents will remain responsible for their own actions and behaviours, as well as the respective services they have agreed and are legally bound to provide to tenants. Tenants and landlords will still be able to complain about agents and receive redress through the existing agent redress schemes.
If the landlord and agent are both at fault, the provision for cooperation in the bill will allow the PRS Landlord Ombudsman to work with the existing agent redress schemes to conduct joint investigations and, where appropriate, issue joint decisions.

Which organisation will take on the role of the new ombudsman?

The government will pursue the most appropriate route for designating or approving an ombudsman scheme to provide the best service for tenants and landlords.
The administrator of the PRS Landlord Ombudsman Service will be appointed as soon as possible after the bill’s provisions are commenced.

Private Rented Sector Database

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.

How will a landlord sign up to the database and what happens if they don’t?

All landlords of assured and regulated tenancies will be legally required to register themselves and their properties on the database. They will be able to do this online.
For those who are unable to register online, we will offer alternative offline ways for registrations to be processed.
Landlords in breach of the duty to register on the database will not be able to get a possession order except if the ground under which possession is sought is ground 7A or ground 14 (tenant anti-social behaviour).
Local councils will be able to take enforcement action against private landlords that fail to join the PRS Database. If a landlord lets or advertises a property without it first being registered on the database, they can be issued with a civil penalty of up to £7,000 by the local council. If a landlord repeatedly breaches the requirement, or if they commit a serious offence such as providing fraudulent information to the database, they may be issued with a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or could face criminal prosecution.

Who will pay for the database? How much will it cost landlords?

Landlords will be required to pay to register on the database. However, we will work to ensure that the fee is proportionate and good value.

What information will be available to the public on the database?   

We are still determining the exact information which will be available to the public and this will be set out in regulations. We are planning for this to include information related to property standards.
We are committed to carefully balancing landlords’ privacy concerns with private tenants’ need to make informed decisions about their housing options when designing a new system. Tenants will be able to access necessary information in relation to their landlord and details of the property, but we do not envisage that all data will be publicly accessible.

How will the database interact with the Database of Rogue Landlords?

We intend for the Private Rented Sector Database to replace the functionality of the Database of Rogue Landlords relating to private sector landlords.
We will make certain details relating to offences viewable to tenants and prospective tenants. Opening up this information will ensure tenants can make a more informed rental decision – leading to a better rental experience. However, we will also ensure that this aim is proportionate to landlords’ right to privacy.

Will the introduction of the database mean the end of selective licensing?

Selective licensing remains a valuable tool when used appropriately and combined with other measures. It enables local authorities to target the improvement of standards and safety in areas suffering from issues such as poor housing quality, high levels of deprivation and anti-social behaviour. It has the ability to drive better outcomes for local residents, tenants and responsible landlords.
Our plans to deliver a Database will provide access to information about privately rented properties and tackle one of the biggest and most time-consuming barriers faced by local councils when enforcing standards – identifying poor quality and non-compliant properties and who owns them.
We will work with local councils to gather more information about their selective licensing schemes to ensure the schemes are continuing to deliver the intended outcomes.

When will the database be launched?

The database is currently undergoing digital development and we aim for the service to be operational as soon as possible following the passage of primary and secondary legislation.
The next stage of development will be the ‘Beta phase’, which will involve building and testing iterations of the service with key users. This testing phase will also inform the requirements for the content of the database which will be set out in regulations.
We will continue to engage with stakeholders and users as we take forward the development of the service and we will conduct extensive testing of the new service ahead of the legal requirement for private residential landlords to register on the database coming into force.

Prohibiting rental discrimination

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.

Won’t landlords just discriminate in less obvious ways?

We are taking direct action to stop both overt discriminatory practices, such as ‘no DSS’ adverts, and indirect practices intentionally designed to prevent families with children or people who receive benefits from entering into a tenancy.
We will work to ensure that tenants know their rights; landlords and agents understand what is expected of them; and local authorities have the resources and skills to enforce effectively.

What about if properties aren’t suitable for children?

Landlords and agents should consider applicants on their individual circumstances.
A 1-bedroom flat for example might be suitable for a mother with a baby but not for a parent with 2 teenage children, where this level of occupancy would mean that rules on overcrowding were breached.
It will be for those letting properties to consider whether excluding prospective tenants with children represents a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim and landlords would need to be able to evidence their decision on a case-by-case basis.

My mortgage/ lease says I can’t let to those in receipt of benefits or with children, what happens then?

Our measures ensure that terms in mortgages and superior agreements which restrict the letting of a property to private renters without children or who receive benefits are of no effect, preventing any breach of contract where a landlord fails to fulfil them.
Therefore, a landlord cannot be compelled to discriminate by their mortgage or superior landlord agreement.
A superior landlord may only include restrictive terms on letting to those with children if it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

My insurance contract says I can’t let to those in receipt of benefits or with children. What should I do?

Existing insurance contracts that begin before the legislation comes into force will be exempt from the provisions until the insurance contract comes to an end or is renewed.
Many insurance companies already offer services to landlords who rent to tenants with children or receiving benefits.
Any restrictive terms in a new insurance contract following the legislation coming into force will be of no effect, preventing any breach of contract.

When will you implement the rental discrimination prohibition?

Following Royal Assent of the Renters’ Rights Bill, we will allow time for a smooth transition to the new system. We will support tenants, landlords and agents to understand and adjust to the new rules, while making sure that people who receive benefits and families with children can benefit from the reforms as soon as possible.
We are engaging with the sector on the implementation of the rental discrimination provisions and will provide more information in due course.

How will this be enforced in England?

We are giving local councils powers to impose civil penalties on landlords and anyone acting directly or indirectly on their behalf up to £7,000 for breaches. Those issued with a financial penalty will be able to appeal the penalty at the First-tier Tribunal.
Landlords and letting agents can receive multiple penalties for continued and repeat breaches.
Our enforcement system will keep all routes to justice open for tenants. Prospective tenants will be able to pursue a breach through their local council or through the courts and seek redress through the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman and letting agent redress schemes.

Which nations do the rental discrimination provisions apply to?

We are introducing these protections in England and have worked closely with the Welsh and Scottish Governments to extend the rental discrimination provisions to Wales and Scotland through the Renters’ Rights Bill.
As housing is devolved and enforcement mechanisms vary, the penalty for a breach of rental discrimination provisions in Wales and Scotland will be a criminal offence in line with the wider housing framework of the devolved administrations.

Rental bidding

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.

Won’t this just encourage landlords to leave the market?

The majority of landlords do not currently encourage rental bidding and the government does not expect these reforms to have a destabilising effect on the rental market.

When will you implement the rental bidding prohibition?

Following Royal Assent of the Renters’ Rights Bill, we will allow time for a smooth transition to the new system. We will support tenants, landlords and agents to understand and adjust to the new rules, while making sure that prospective tenants can benefit from the reforms as soon as possible.
We are engaging with the sector on the implementation of the rental bidding provisions and will provide more information in due course.
We are giving local councils powers to impose civil penalties on landlords and anyone acting directly or indirectly on their behalf up to £7,000 for breaches.
Landlords and letting agents can receive multiple civil penalties for continued and repeat breaches.
Our enforcement system will keep routes to justice open for tenants. Tenants will be able to pursue a breach through their local council and seek redress through the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman and letting agent redress schemes.

Will local government be funded to enforce the rental bidding provisions?

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.

Which nations do the rental bidding provisions apply to?

Housing is a devolved matter. The rental bidding provisions apply only in England.

Renting with pets

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.

What is a reasonable reason for a landlord to refuse a tenant having a pet?

Landlords will be required to fully consider all requests on a case-by-case basis. Due to the diversity of landlords, tenants, and properties in the private rented sector, it would not be possible to legislate for every situation where a landlord would or would not be able to ‘reasonably’ refuse a pet.
It will always be reasonable for a landlord to refuse a request when their superior landlord prohibits pets. We will provide guidance to landlords and tenants to support decisions.

What happens if a landlord unreasonably refuses?

Where a tenant feels that a landlord has unreasonably refused their request, they will be able to escalate their complaint to the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman or they could take the case to court.
A final decision will be based on the evidence provided by both parties.

What happens if a pet damages a property?

We are amending the Tenant Fees Act 2019 so that landlords can require insurance to cover any damage caused by pets living in the property. If the landlord takes out the insurance, those reasonable costs will be recoverable from the tenant.
Tenants also pay a tenancy deposit which can be used for damages although landlords should not attempt to recover costs twice for the same damage.
In the very rare cases where the insurance and deposit do not cover the cost of the damage, a landlord could take the tenant to court to recoup additional funds in line with wider rules in the sector.

Decent Homes Standard

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.

Which PRS properties will be required to meet the DHS?

The DHS will apply to the vast majority of private rented homes, including all PRS homes let on assured tenancies. The standard will also apply to privately rented supported housing occupied both under tenancies and licences. This means that most tenants will benefit from the new standard.
The bill also includes a power to extend the scope to include other types of tenancies and licences. This will allow us to respond to changes in the sector or evidence of poor condition in some PRS property types that are not covered by the standard.

How will the Decent Homes Standard be enforced?

If a privately rented property fails to meet DHS requirements, the local council will have a range of enforcement mechanisms available. This includes, for example, issuing an improvement notice requiring the landlord to remedy the failure within a specified timescale.
Landlords who fail to comply with enforcement action can be subject to a civil penalty or criminal prosecution. If such an offence is committed, the tenant or local council can also apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order.
We will be introducing a legal duty on landlords to ensure their property meets the DHS. For landlords who fail to take reasonably practicable steps to keep their properties free of serious hazards, local councils will also have a new power to issue civil penalties of up to £7,000. This will incentivise all landlords to proactively manage and maintain the safety and decency of their properties.

Awaab’s Law

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.

How will Awaab’s Law be enforced in the private rented sector?

In line with the approach taken for social housing, Awaab’s Law will imply terms into private rented sector tenancy agreements. This means all private landlords will have to meet Awaab’s Law requirements – for example, on timescales for dealing with hazards such as damp and mould – when these are set out in regulations.   
If landlords fail to comply, tenants will be able to challenge them through the court for breach of contract. If the court finds the landlord in breach, they will be able to order the landlord to take appropriate action and/or pay compensation.
Seeking redress through the courts is not the only way that residents can challenge their landlords for breaches of Awaab’s Law. Tenants may wish to complain to their landlord and, if they are not satisfied with the response, this could then be escalated to the new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman.

What timescales will be set for private landlords to carry out repairs? Will these be the same as for social housing?

Everyone deserves a home that is safe, decent and secure, so it is only right that Awaab’s Law protections should be in place for renters regardless of whether their homes are privately or socially rented.
We recognise that there are differences between the private and social rented sectors. We will carefully consider how best to apply Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector in a way that is fair, proportionate and effective for both tenants and landlords, and will consult on this. We will set out further detail on our plans in due course.

Enforcement and investigatory powers

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.

What’s changing on enforcement? 

We’re extending civil penalties and rent repayment orders, placing a new duty on councils to take enforcement action and enhancing their powers of investigation to make that easier.
Local councils will be able to issue civil penalties against landlords who fail to comply with our reforms – for example if they fail to register on the Private Rented Sector Database or with the ombudsman or abuse the new grounds of possession.  
First or minor non-compliance will incur a civil penalty of up to £7,000 and serious or repeat non-compliance a civil penalty of up to £40,000.
For serious and repeat non-compliance, local councils will alternatively be able to pursue a criminal prosecution with an unlimited fine.  
For the first time, local councils will also be able to issue civil penalties against landlords who evict their tenants illegally.  
We are extending rent repayment orders to superior landlords and to some of the new offences in the bill, increasing the maximum penalty to 2 years’ rent and requiring repeat offenders to repay the maximum amount of rent.
We are introducing enhanced investigatory powers that will make it easier for local councils to obtain financial information from landlords and third parties when seeking to build a case against landlords for suspected abuses.
We are exploring a national framework for setting civil penalties based on clear culpability and harm considerations, supporting a consistent approach to civil penalty setting and reducing the likelihood of reductions on appeal.

What are the new investigatory powers?

The Renters’ Rights Bill introduces new investigatory powers to help to support local authorities tackle unscrupulous landlords.
These powers are modelled on existing powers available for local trading standards, for example to support the enforcement of letting and estate agent legislation.
The bill provides a power to require information from third parties such as banks, accountants and client money protection schemes, as an additional route to get vital evidence to build cases.
It also includes the power to enter business premises and – in more limited circumstances – residential premises to obtain on-site evidence. Often essential evidence, such as email exchanges, text messages, bank statements and tenancy agreements, are held on business premises.
These powers will be available for breaches relating to the new Bill and wider housing legislation.

Rent repayment orders

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.

What’s changing on RROs?

We are extending RROs to superior landlords and company directors to ensure criminal rent-to-rent arrangements can be properly held to account.
RROs will apply to new offences in the bill, to ensure robust tenant-led enforcement and better compliance with the new system.
Landlords who have previously been subject to enforcement action for an offence will be required to repay the full amount of rent if they commit that offence again, to crack down on repeat offenders.
The maximum amount of rent a landlord can be ordered to repay will double from 12 to 24 months, increasing the deterrent effect of RROs and making them more appealing for tenants and local authorities to pursue.
We are extending the period in which a tenant or local authority can apply for an RRO after the offence from 12 to 24 months, making them easier for tenants and local authorities to pursue and helping prevent them from being timed out.
Where a landlord has been convicted of or received a financial penalty for any of the relevant offences across the bill, they will be required to repay the maximum RRO amount. This ensures the deterrent effect is maximised across all the relevant RRO offences.

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Example 1: NYU MSW Personal Statement Sample

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Example 2: Columbia MSW Personal Statement Sample

Example 3: UC Berkeley MSW Statement of Purpose Sample

Example 4: Cal State Fullerton MSW Personal Statement Sample

Example 5: Cal State Long Beach MSW Personal Statement Sample

Example 6: San Jose State University MSW Personal Statement Sample

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Example 8: University of Pittsburg MSW Personal Statement Sample

Example 9: Case Western Reserve University MSW Personal Statement Sample

Example 10: University of Pittsburg MSW Personal Statement Sample

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