Amidst heated debates and accusations, the Renters’ Reform Bill, a highly anticipated piece of legislation, is set to face crucial votes in the House of Commons. This landmark bill, initially intended to swiftly eliminate despised “no-fault evictions,” has undergone modifications following intense lobbying efforts by landlord-supporting backbenchers within the Conservative Party.
The ban on no-fault evictions, a key provision of the bill, has been compromised. Its implementation is now contingent upon ministers’ assessment of the courts’ capacity to handle disputes, a process that could potentially span years. This move has drawn sharp criticism from housing charity Shelter, which has denounced the bill as a “colossal failure” that fails to provide adequate protection for tenants.
Shadow Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has accused Michael Gove, the minister responsible for housing, of “appeasing Tory landlords at the expense of private renters.” However, Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young has defended the bill, asserting that it “strikes the right balance” between tenant protection and landlord fairness.
In addition to banning no-fault evictions, the bill also seeks to abolish fixed-term tenancies, allowing tenants to terminate their rental agreements with just two months’ notice. Dozens of Conservative MPs have joined forces to introduce an amendment that would overturn this ban, a move that has been met with strong opposition from renters’ rights campaigners.
Young has reiterated the government’s commitment to the fixed-term ban, vowing to resist any further concessions to rebel landlords. The outcome of today’s votes will determine the fate of this contentious bill, which has sparked intense debate between those advocating for stronger tenant protections and those seeking to preserve the interests of landlords.
