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9:20 AM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago 58
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The controversial Renters (Reform) Bill which is set to abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions is on the brink of collapse, The Sun newspaper claims.
Quoting Whitehall insiders, the newspaper says ‘angry Tory MPs’ are holding the Housing Secretary Michael Gove ‘to ransom’ in a bid to force changes.
The Bill was promised in the Conservative’s manifesto in 2019 and is still making its way through Parliament.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had promised to end ‘no-fault’ evictions by the next election.
The newspaper says officials are ‘distraught’ because the Tory MPs are refusing to budge on their legislation stance.
The resistance is being led by Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall.
The Sun quotes an insider who told them: “The Renters Reform Bill looks like it may now collapse and the Tories risk breaking their manifesto commitment to end no fault evictions.
“Officials are at a total loss given both pro-landlord groups like the National Residential Landlords Association and pro-renters groups like the Renters Reform Coalition want this bill passed ASAP.
“It seems a small group of landlord MPs, led by Anthony Mangnall, are holding the bill to ransom.”
While not being a landlord, Mr Mangnall says he supports abolishing ‘no-fault’ evictions.
And he warns that there are many disappointed Tory MPs who are unhappy at the prospect of Section 21 being abolished and periodic tenancies being brought in.
It now appears that the two sides are at a stalemate and time will likely run out before the Bill will finish its journey through Parliament.
Mr Mangnall told The Sun: “I want to amend the Bill not to kill it.
“It’s my role as a legislator to ensure we pass sensible legislation. We’ve had constructive meetings with Michael Gove.
“This is about trying to find the right balance.”
On X, formerly Twitter, Ben Beadle, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “If amendments are as reported, the Govt should get on and publish them. The changes would give responsible #landlords the confidence they need & keep manifesto promises to #renters.
“I hope @michaelgove stands firm & gets the RRB over the line. It would be a travesty if not.”
The chief executive of Generation Rent, Ben Twomey, said: “If the Renters (Reform) Bill were to collapse as this report suggests, it would be the biggest betrayal of renters in a generation and nothing short of a disgrace.
“Ending Section 21 no fault evictions has been promised for almost five years and the prospect that government might abandon its word to 12 million renters because of party infighting is shameful.
“The Bill intends to, in its own words, ‘rebalance the power between tenants and landlords’, but no compromise appears to be enough. Concessions to weaken and delay the Bill’s impact have already been made.”
He adds: “This Bill is more than fair to landlords and the major landlord organisations all support reform. With soaring homelessness and record evictions, opponents of this Bill are far removed from the realities of renting.”
Tom Darling, the campaign manager at the Renters Reform Coalition, said his organisation wouldn’t support ‘a grubby deal’ between landlord backbenchers and the government.
Labour’s Shadow Communities Minister, Liz Twist, said that the government has had 14 years to protect tenants but has only broken promises.
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “Our landmark Renters (Reform) Bill will deliver a fairer private rented sector for both tenants and landlords.
“It will abolish section 21 evictions – giving people more security in their homes and empowering them to challenge poor practices.
“We continue to meet regularly with a range of groups, representing all those in the private rented sector.”
Frank Jennings
10:59 AM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
What the RRB and the removal of S21 supporters fail to understand is that Banks will not want to provide affordable Buy 2 let mortgages to Landlords, if the landlords do not have complete control of their properties. Landlords must be able to remove non rent paying tennants or antisocial tennants quickly, and effectively. Removing S21 will prevent that ability. Landlords will be forced to either get out of the PRS or use S8 which would take a tribunal hearing and months if not years to evict a problem Tennant(s).
It's hard enough being a landlord in the UK as it is! We have to suffer S24 where we are not allowed to get tax relief on mortgage interest payments, where every other business in the country are allowed to do so! Even Ltd companies that rent out residential properties can claim this tax relief, but not private landlords for some unknown strange reason! How fair is that? Not fair at all!
The govenment has made its position clear, and Gove has declared war on the PRS LL. He has said as much recently, and wishes to remove the private landlord from the PRS, so that only companies and housing associations can make their profits from providing housing to the nation. There are 10 Million renters in the UK. They don't own their homes. Their homes are owned by investors and Landlords, who must make profits to be able to continue to provide homes for renters. The renters can and do buy their own homes when they can afford to, and renting a home is often an integral part of achieving that. Better job prospects with better salaries are also available with a mobile workforce who can quickly and easily move and rent in the areas where the jobs are, until they can afford to buy their own. The PRS is vital to ensure fluidity and freedom of choice in the housing market. The PRS provides this and much more, and its loss will only close the doors to opportunities for better job prospects for everyone, and lock people into greater poverty.
I used to live in a job black spot area, with no chance of moving to where the jobs were, because I had no money to do so. But thanks to the PRS I was eventually able to move to a well paid job, in another area and obtained much better prospects for the future. Please don't let the govenment destroy the PRS. It's a major route to obtaining a better job and provides freedom of choice for everyone.
Steve Masters
11:11 AM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
“It seems a small group of landlord MPs, led by Anthony Mangnall, are holding the bill to ransom.”
Are they holding the bill to ransom or are they offering valuable insight into the debate because as landlords they know what they are talking about? Their views should neither be taken as fact or dismissed without scrutiny, they need to be heard and considered.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The real answer to the housing shortage is to build more houses.
TJP
11:11 AM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
The legislation will, according to Ben Twomey of Generation Rent, "rebalance the power between tenant and landlord". Really????? My Section 21 action at Willesden County Court was deferred by 2 years. My subsequent Section 8 was granted but after 5 months I still have no eviction date and my solicitor is being blanked/ghosted by the same Willesden County Court, I'm not sure who owns my property, my tenant or Willesden County Court, but it certainly isn't me. My name on the title documents but that little fact is lost on the corrupt court system.. So far and £16,000 +++ in costs and lost rent, it seems to me that the current legislation is criminally in favour of the tenant. This attempt to abolish the all-but-useless Section 21 is a blatant excuses for the failure to build enough houses.
John MacAlevey
11:53 AM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
..plenety of houses in the UK, just TOO many people. That`s what has distorted the PRS & selling markets.
Brian Strickland
12:05 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TJP at 08/03/2024 - 11:11
You could have insured that for £ 200. Insurance references are tougher than some conducted by lettings agents. They would then pay you the rent until the tenant is gone take care of all the court work inc solicitors and costs. No brainer. We have 200 props. They are all insured. The references insure we get good tennants. I rarely ever get involved in tenant legal problems
Frank Jennings
12:10 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TJP at 08/03/2024 - 11:11
I'm Sorry to hear this TJP,
It's much worse than the public know, as you are explaining with your experience of how bad the PRS is broken.
Clearly the court system is so blocked up with eviction cases, and the judges are instructed to delay and obstruct proceedings that the system has become corrupted and broken, and contemptably one sided, in favour of the tennants.There is no true justice in the court system anymore for landlords, nor anybody else.
Is it possible to get private Bailiffs to evict, rather than wait for the court Bailiffs? As long as you have your court order for eviction, I think you can choose that option?
Is there other options available such as CCJ or
Dept collectors? Hopefully someone on here can make better suggestions for you to explore.
Good luck in any event.
moneymanager
12:56 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
'Officials are at a total loss given both pro-landlord groups like the National Residential Landlords Association and pro-renters groups like the Renters Reform Coalition want this bill passed ASAP.'
Thank god In stopped funding the enemy years ago.
PH
12:58 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by John MacAlevey at 08/03/2024 - 11:53
Spot on John , I've said it for at least 10 years. The country can't cope with so many people, it was clear years ago what was going to happen. The UK is sinking no matter who is ' running ' it .
moneymanager
12:59 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TJP at 08/03/2024 - 11:11
But remember, "you will own nothing but you will be happy", oddly, and truly a "conspiracy theory" come true, the ever raising of property taxes isn't WEF thought but comes from The Protocols but then they were a forgery, weren't they?
Reluctant Landlord
13:29 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by moneymanager at 08/03/2024 - 12:56
WTAF - Why didn't BB just come out and say the NRLA have never thought getting rid of S21 was a good idea at all, but given the push to do this anyway all the NRLA want is to do is ensure that the legislation is fair to both sides if and when it is passed.
NRLA siding with the enemy indeed!