Renters Reform Bill moves to House of Lords
After months of waiting the Renters Reform Bill finally passed its third reading in the House of Commons yesterday, Coverage for the Bill has been widespread in the national press and trade press, some of which has been inaccurately reported.
Abolishing Section 21
This WILL happen. It is a manifesto commitment and the Housing Minister stressed that six months’ notice (a transitionary period) before ending section 21 tenancies to give the sector some time to implement these changes. There is a continued commitment to improving the county court system to adjust to the new possession processes.
Renters Reform Bill moves to next Stage
Renters Reform Bill finally moved to the next stage. After months of waiting, the Bill moves to Report Stage and MPs will have the opportunity to make further amendments.
Renters Reform Bill to return to the Commons after Easter Recess
On the 27th March 2024, Jacob Young MP wrote to Conservative MPs regarding the Renters Reform Bill. He stated that the Conservatives are committed to “creating a fairer private rental sector” – standing on the promise that: - “if you’re a tenant, you will be protected from revenge evictions and rogue landlords, and if you are one of the many good landlords, we will strengthen your rights of possession”.
During her time as Housing Minister, Rachel Maclean MP made amendments to the Bill to bolster landlord protections which included making it clear that legislation would not be implemented until sufficient progress has been made improving courts, and scrapping proposals that would have both forced landlords to make expensive energy efficiency upgrades to their homes.
The Commons Committee reviewed concerns that have been put forward and as such, Government will bring forward further improvements at Commons Report Stage.
Michael Gove confirms “No-fault evictions will be "outlawed".
This morning, Housing Secretary Michael Gove told Laura Kuenssberg of the BBC that ‘No Fault Evictions’ will be banned by the next general election.
It’s difficult to watch this play out in a “Ground Hog” kind of way because since the announcement was made in 2019 that Section 21 (Form 6A) notice would be abolished, nothing much has really changed.
Of course, the Renters Reform Bill which will serve as the vehicle to abolish the Section 21 notice, is currently at the Report Stage, but the government has clearly stated that a ban of the notice cannot be enacted until the court system is improved, something confirmed by Michael Gove last year.
When asked by Laura Kuenssberg if he could guarantee that ‘unlawful evictions’ would end by the time of the next general election, Mr Gove responded that: "We will have outlawed it and we will have put the money into the courts in order to ensure that they can enforce that." A woolly response that is most definitely not possible because reforming the courts will not be a quick fix.