Landlord MPs amendments threaten progress on Renters Reform Bill claim campaigners

Landlord MPs amendments threaten progress on Renters Reform Bill claim campaigners

9:39 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago 18

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Campaigners are warning the Renters (Reform) Bill is being watered down by MPs.

The Renters Reform Coalition and Shelter claim a group of backbench MPs who are also landlords are delaying the bill for their own interests.

Analysis of the Register of MP’s Financial Interests conducted by the Renters’ Reform Coalition reveals that five out of the ten MPs in England with the biggest landlord portfolios are involved.

Significantly render the legislation

According to Shelter, there are a total of 68 Conservative MPs who are landlords as well as 16 from Labour and two Liberal Democrats.

The housing charity says they each earn thousands of pounds from these properties.

The Renters Reform Coalition claim a group of 40 Conservative MPs are tabling amendments to the Bill which will “significantly render” the legislation.

According to the organisation, amendments tabled by Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall, include proposals to allow ‘hearsay’ evidence to be used in evictions over antisocial behaviour, delay the bill’s implementation indefinitely and abolish council licensing schemes intended to drive up standards.

Twelve of the 40 MPs who have signed the amendments (30%) are themselves landlords of properties in England with the total number of properties being let out by MPs who have signed the amendments sitting at 48.

Duty to their constituents to deliver reforms

Tom Darling, campaign manager of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, told the Negotiator magazine the government must not bow down to backbench MPs: “Of course, being a landlord doesn’t mean you can’t be an MP.

“But we think those who personally profit from England’s broken rental market have a particular duty to their constituents to deliver reforms to the private rented sector. Indeed, they all stood on manifestos to do just that in 2019.”

He adds: “It is therefore extremely concerning to see these MPs signing up to amendments that would render significant parts of the legislation pointless.

“What’s more, the government have now invested so much politically in this issue that we are concerned they might be looking to make concessions to these rebels to pass the bill quickly and say they have abolished no-fault evictions – despite in reality introducing a system that won’t be much better.”

Ban Section 21

Recently, Housing Secretary Michael Gove pledged to ban Section 21 evictions ‘no fault’ evictions by the next election.

He said: “We will have outlawed it, and we will have put the money into the courts in order to ensure that they can enforce that.”

The Renters (Reform) Bill passed the committee stage last year and is currently in the report stage with a date yet to be announced for its third reading.


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Comments

Cider Drinker

8:54 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

Do they read their own piffle before publishing it?
So, 30% of the MPs that have signed the amendments are landlords. This means that 70% (the overwhelming majority) are NOT landlords.
Our political system relies on elected MPs to make sure legislation is fair and reasonable. I’m sure that Shelter (who don’t provide shelter to anyone) and their cohorts would love us to live in a dictatorship.
Also, some landlords may earn thousands from their rental business. They also risk hundreds of thousands by owning property. Rental profits should only be quoted in terms of the interest rate earned and should be quoted net of tax. Most landlords earn less than 5% net.

Falco van der Gragt

9:53 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

One thought about these MP's who have properties they rent out is that they may have a better idea what it is all about.....

Steve Masters

10:00 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Falco van der Gragt at 21/02/2024 - 09:53Well said Falco, that is what I was about to say myself.
The rental property owning MP's will have a better understanding than anyone else on how the bill will affect the rental market. Listen to them, they know what they are talking about.

Markella Mikkelsen

10:09 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

As long as we and the media keep calling it "no-fault" evction, the penny won't drop.
I have urged the NRLA to do a survey and publish the data on how many S21 are truly "no fault". I know none of mine are.
Data speaks louder than waffle and backs up our argument that landlords resort to S21 beacuse nothing else works.
I am no spin doctor, but I am sure someone out there can come up with a better name than "no-fault".

AdrianB

10:27 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

577 MPs are entitled to rent a 2nd home in London therefore the vast majority of MP's are in fact Tenant’s not Landlords! So perhaps a better headline is 'Tennent MPs push forward anti Landlord Renters Reform Bill claim the NRLA' - i won't hold my breath....

Ryan Stevens

10:27 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

Perhaps the backbenchers who are landlords want to amend the bill because they actually UNDERSTAND the impact the bill could have on the rental sector, with more landlords choosing to sell.

The likes of the Renters Reform Coalition and Shelter, who are not landlords and do not understand what they are doing, are clueless and intent on pushing through legislation that will damage the private rental sector.

Reluctant Landlord

11:04 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 21/02/2024 - 10:27
....but being on the batting side for landlords is not popular...its election time....they are vote chasing.

If the majority of their constituents rent...which side of the RRB debate do you think they are going to stand?

Cider Drinker

11:51 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 21/02/2024 - 11:04
The Renters (Reform) Bill is damaging for tenants too.

Our elected MPs should consider the wishes of their electorate when casting their votes in Parliament. They are elected to serve the constituency.

Reluctant Landlord

11:53 AM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 21/02/2024 - 11:51. LL's already know this, but telling MP's is pointless - they are not interested in tenants unless they put an X next to their name on the ballot paper.
If they get elected off the back of the anti LL rhetoric and the belief that the RRB is the cure all to the housing problem then that's all they care about...short term personal gain....

Dave the Rave

14:08 PM, 21st February 2024, About 2 months ago

I do hope the MP's with some skin in the game, actually help steer away from inevitable unintended consequences. Having said that, they have done a damn awful job of it so far!

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