Renters (Reform) Bill “unlikely to be passed” before parliament is prorogued: reports
The Renters (Reform) Bill will not become law before Parliament is prorogued today (25 May), according to reports.
The BBC said its sources had suggested that the Bill will be among those pieces of legislation that will not be passed before the suspension of Parliament prior to the general election on 4 July.
The Conservative party included a promise to ban so-called section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions as part of its 2019 manifesto.
The Renters (Reform) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons in May 2023.
In February this year, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, insisted that the proposed ban on section 21 evictions would come into force before the next general election.
Ministers confirmed during a debate on the legislation in April, however, that the Government would delay commencement of the ban until a review of the courts system had taken place.
The Bill’s progress had also been reportedly delayed by opposition from a number of Conservative MPs who feared it would cause landlords to sell up.
Housing and landlord groups have expressed concern at the prospect of the Bill not being passed.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The government had five long years and every opportunity to honour its manifesto commitment to abolish Section 21 no fault evictions, but instead it has failed England’s 11 million renters. Renters have been shouting from the rooftops about the urgent need for reform, but once again politicians have let them down.
“Tenants have endured hellish conditions and rocketing evictions, with 77,000 households threatened with homelessness because of a no fault eviction since the government promised to scrap them. It’s unacceptable that they’ve now walked away with nothing to show for it.
“Renters can no longer be ignored, and lip service won’t cut it this time. All political parties must commit to abolishing unfair no fault evictions in all forms, and making renting safer, secure and more affordable.”
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “If true, it is hugely disappointing that this Bill will not now make it into law. The news comes despite the fact that the Bill was in a state which would work for tenants and responsible landlords.
“There has been too much dither and delay in government, and a failure to be clear about how to ensure changes would work in practice. Critically, the market now faces yet more crippling uncertainty about what the future of the private rented sector looks like.
“Reforming the sector will be an important issue for the next government and we will work constructively with them to ensure changes are fair and workable. That means empowering tenants to challenge rogue and criminal landlords whilst ensuring the confidence of responsible landlords to stay in the market.”
Harry Rodd
