Renters’ Rights Bill returns to Lords for ‘ping-pong’ over amendments

In a last-ditch attempt before the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law, Peers fight back and make further amendments.

The bill returns to the House of Lords next Tuesday (14 October) for its final stages, commonly known as ‘ping-pong’, where it will go back and forth between the Lords and Commons to resolve any remaining disagreements on amendments.

Only three amendments by Peers have been tabled so far, as the bill is not expected to have any major changes before it becomes law.

Pressing again for Ground 4A amendment

According to the Parliament website, Baroness Scott of Bybrook has tabled an amendment that the House “do insist on its Amendment 53, to which the Commons have disagreed for their Reason 53A.”

Amendment 53 concerns possession under Ground 4A, which allows student landlords to regain possession at the end of the academic year for HMOs with three or more tenants, covering typical full-time student house-shares.

Peers had previously urged MPs to broaden Ground 4A to include non-typical students, such as older postgraduates with families, who may live in self-contained one- or two-bedroom properties.

However, MPs rejected this proposal, saying in their amendments-in-lieu paper that “there is insufficient justification to extend Ground 4A beyond student house-shares.” Baroness Scott of Bybrook is once again pressing for the amendment, which will be debated in the Lords next week.

Undermine protections for the small subset of tenants

Lord Young of Cookham will reintroduce amendment 19, which would exempt shared owners from the 12-month re-letting and re-marketing restriction.

Shared owners are people who own part of a home and rent the rest, often through a housing association.

Currently, under the Renters’ Rights Bill, if a landlord evicts a tenant to sell a property but the sale falls through, they must wait 12 months before re-letting it. The amendment would allow shared owners to bypass this restriction.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook previously opposed it, warning that it “could undermine protections for the small subset of tenants who happen to rent a sublet home from a shared owner.”

No major amendments expected

The third amendment up for debate in the Lords, proposed by Baroness Grender, would require the government to produce an annual report on the Decent Homes Standard for Ministry of Defence accommodation in England.

The report would need to assess whether the standard has been met and outline steps to address any shortfalls.

Peers can still propose further amendments, but major changes are not expected before next week’s debate.