Overview of House of Lords Committee Stage - the Renters' Rights Bill
From the 22nd April to the 14th May 2025, the House of Lords undertook a meticulous clause-by-clause review of the Renters’ Rights Bill across six sittings at Committee Stage. Each session brought forward proposed amendments, clarifications, and constructive scrutiny intended to reinforce the legislative framework, improve the Bill's enforceability, and ensure a balanced approach between tenant protection and landlord responsibility.
Committee Day 1 – 22 April 2025
Key Themes: Definitions
Peers debated the definition and removal of assured shorthold tenancies.
There was also a push to ensure that the reformed tenancy structure maintains clarity and enforceability, particularly regarding the rights of possession and eviction, to prevent unintended disruption to housing associations and local authorities.
Committee Day 2 – 24 April 2025
Key Themes: New Grounds for Possession, Compensation, Landlord Compliance
Attention turned to the proposed new Ground 6B, enabling landlords to regain possession if required to comply with enforcement notices. Some voiced concerns that this could be misused to evict tenants under the guise of compliance.
As a safeguard, amendments were tabled requiring mandatory compensation for tenants affected by possession under this ground, shifting from optional judicial discretion to a firm legal requirement.
The Lords questioned whether existing compensation levels were adequate and whether tenants would be fully protected if forced to leave for enforcement reasons. The debate concluded with the recognition that statutory clarity around compensation, notice periods, and procedural fairness would be essential.
Committee Day 3 – 28 April 2025
Key Themes: Access to Justice, Court Reform, Digitisation
This session focused primarily on the capacity of the judicial system to handle an expected increase in possession claims following the abolition of Section 21.
Amendments proposed a statutory obligation on the Lord Chancellor to report regularly on the effectiveness of court processes in handling possession proceedings, including timelines, digitisation efforts, and resourcing.
The Lords emphasised that timely access to justice is a cornerstone of the new framework, and there was cross-party consensus on the need for robust, digitally supported court infrastructure, including a user-friendly possession claims process.
Committee Day 4 – 6 May 2025
Key Themes: Written Tenancy Terms, Tenant Awareness, Legal Clarity
Debate resumed with Clause 14, which requires landlords to provide tenants with written statements of terms at the start of the tenancy. This was welcomed across the House as a significant step in ensuring transparency.
The Lords proposed amendments requiring that the written terms must include all prescribed information—such as rent, duration, repair obligations, and termination provisions—and that failure to comply would limit a landlord's ability to enforce certain tenancy rights.
Discussion also touched upon the importance of prescribed templates and plain-English formats, particularly to assist vulnerable or non-native English-speaking tenants.
Committee Day 5 – 12 May 2025
Key Themes: Removal of Redundant Legislation, Letting Agent Regulation
The Committee turned to the proposed repeal of Part 3 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, which permitted landlords to repossess abandoned properties without a court order. Although never commenced, Peers agreed it was inconsistent with the principles of the current reforms and should be repealed.
There was a wider debate from Lord Best on the regulatory landscape for letting agents, with support expressed for future statutory regulation under the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) framework.
Committee stage day six: Wednesday 14 May
Members speaking on day six of committee stage put forward amendments to the bill on subjects including:
residential boat fees classified as rent
mobile homes as sole residence
landlord records of gas and safety checks
minimum energy efficiency standards
twenty-four-hour notice for inspections.
The next stage will be the Report Stage yet to be diarised.