Peers reject amendments to Renters’ Rights Bill as Royal Assent looms
6 months ago | 30 comments
Landlords silenced as the Renters’ Rights Bill runs out of steam
10:53 AM, 17th October 2025, 6 months ago
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Well, that’s that then. No glorious resistance in the House of Lords, as the Renters’ Rights Bill limps back to the Commons and then Royal Assent.
No real defence of the PRS to help politicians understand what they’ve got wrong.
And they’ve got a lot wrong, as time will tell.
The game of ‘ping pong’ between the Houses ran out of steam like an asthmatic marathon runner who can see the finish line but has nothing else to give.
Reading the debates shows that some peers did understand the PRS, but they got shouted down and ignored.
We call this democracy.
Not only was there no outcry, but the landlord forums were mute as well. Everyone appears to be exhausted and unwilling to fight more.
Tenants won’t be protected
The debates over pet deposits and re-letting restrictions were interesting, but the government wouldn’t be moved.
What began as a bold Labour pledge to shield tenants from rogue evictions and unfair rent rises has morphed into a decree.
For landlords across England, this signals not victory, but a precarious truce.
We are stuck in the rental trenches, with an air of unease about what happens next.
PRS faces instability
Though there’s still nothing being published about how this Bill really impacts tenants and the inevitable instability that will come.
Smaller landlords will sell and not invest.
That’s tenants losing out twice there.
The government insists that the reforms won’t destabilise the sector but wait and see what happens to a landlord who must wait for a full year before re-renting, or face penalties.
A landlord’s right to choose whether pets are allowed is gone, and there’s no extra cash to cover the inevitable repairs.
Some might say that benefits claimants gaining equal footing in tenant applications is a good thing.
It is if they can find somewhere they can afford.
Don’t get me started on periodic tenancies and the right for a tenant to hand in their notice from day one.
The hassle and cost of recruiting new tenants and the risk of voids will seriously damage supply.
Landlords will leave
It’s going to be an interesting trap that appears in the coming months as landlords reassess whether they want to remain.
I’ve mentioned before that the Bill effectively removes a landlord’s control of their own property which is just nonsense on stilts.
But I hadn’t quite appreciated that a landlord with long-term tenants and rising costs is facing a dilemma.
For many, the numbers won’t add up, and as the risk of making a loss every year grows, they won’t want to let down their tenants.
And here the portrayal of all landlords being heartless will loom large.
That’s because we might have to hand out bad news to decent people who rent our homes.
They’ll be left to find fewer homes at higher rents, and with letting criteria getting tighter, where will they go?
Other RRB problems
Clueless councils bringing in selective licensing adds to the chaos, and the costs for upgrading homes for EPC measures will really put the skids under the sector.
Then we have the prospect of the landlord ombudsman which, I’m predicting, won’t be on the side of landlords.
Plus, the landlord database where our private details are available to the world will be an issue.
Especially, since it will highlight ‘problem’ landlords.
Rents will now inevitably rise to counter the growing costs, bringing hardship to many tenants.
Landlords are facing a dilemma that’s not of our making.
The abolition of Section 21 has always sounded noble because the landlord has always been the ‘greedy’ or ‘exploitative’ one.
In reality, the world is about to learn what landlords really face as eviction cases clog the courts.
Unpaid rent, antisocial behaviour and rented homes wrecked will be top of the bill.
Generational impact of RRB
At the start of this, I mentioned that the reaction from landlords and property experts was subdued, but that’s not all.
The celebration from tenant activist groups who have pushed for this was surprisingly quiet.
Perhaps the penny is starting to drop as members and supporters start telling these clowns that their landlord is bailing out.
It’s going to be a sad day when Royal Assent is given, and the number of evictions begins to rise.
That means it could be a worrying Christmas for many, and that’s without Rachel Thieves’ Autumn Budget, as they begin the search for a home.
Though with all those illegal immigrants leaving hotels for nice, rented homes, they could be moved into those empty rooms.
At the moment, it’s like a Christmas Day truce in the trenches, but when the guns start again it’s going to change the environment completely.
We tried to warn renters and politicians and anyone who would listen.
But you ignored us, and now tenants need to prepare for very bad news.
Everyone in the PRS has been hit by the Bill because this ridiculous law will have a generational impact.
When the dust settles and small landlords disappear, and with no homes to rent, there’s going to be a very unpleasant political blowback.
Good.
Until next time,
The Landlord Crusader
Tags:
commons approval, housing reforms england, Landlords, Lords amendments, No fault Evictions, Private Rental Sector, rental market impact, renters rights bill, royal assent 2025, Tenant Protections, The Landlord Crusader
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Member Since August 2014 - Comments: 175
7:13 PM, 18th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 17/10/2025 – 12:35
Although the government may be stupid and incompetent those traits are heavily outweighed by their deep corruption from sources such as international wealth management companies like Blackrock and various UK Build to Rent companies. This is I believe their motivation to destroy the PRS for independent landlords and deliver the sector to the corporate BTR landlords.
This government is also lazy and deceitful and avoids accountability by promising young voters to provide more new built houses, which it knows it can’t do, but instead forces changes to the law by means of the RRB to allow tenants, if they so choose, to effectively legally squat in their landlords property.
I’ve been UK non resident for many years and am now selling my few remaining properties. My 20 remaining tenants will by the end of 2026 all need to have found themselves new places to live. My proceeds of sales will be invested outside of the UK.
There are currently listed on Rightmove only available four 4 bed HMOs comparable to mine in my area of BS3. This for a popular part of a city with an estimated population of 500,000, or 720,000 if including surrounding areas.
Member Since August 2014 - Comments: 175
7:46 PM, 18th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 18/10/2025 – 17:08
I would say the government is not so much trying to entirely rid the country of the Private Rented Sector but instead split the sector into two tiers. One the PRS with independent landlords heavily regulated and taxed and stripped of almost all legal protections and the other tier becoming the CRS, ie the Corporate Rented Sector with less regulation, less tax and more protections.
The PRS will end up with the poorest more troublesome tenants and the CRS with the affluent better behaved tenants able to pay a higher rent for their “lifestyle” accommodation.
Government Ministers will of course receive invitations to give highly paid speeches to these corporations or be hired as well paid “consultants” for limited consulting “services”, as did George Osborne after giving up his government gig.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 108
1:42 AM, 19th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Bristol Landlord at 18/10/2025 – 19:46
They can lump it as far as I’m concerned. Like many small landlords I’m just waiting for my existing tenants to leave before moving into one of many options which give similar returns without the hassle. The government can take on housing everyone and the abuse that will come with their failures.
Member Since August 2025 - Comments: 3
7:22 AM, 19th October 2025, About 6 months ago
I’m one of the smaller landlords who has now left the sector completely and will not return.
The risks are too high and have swung in favour of tenants, trying to secure an eviction after the RRB will be costly and time consuming, something that I’m not willing to battle for.
The diminishing returns are being eroded by fees such as council licensing, taxation and whatever the government sees fit to levy upon us.
Whilst I agree that tenants should be protected from unscrupulous landlords (who the government and councils should really be after), the majority of us are decent and do care about our tenants and property yet we are all tarred with the same brush. I would have stayed as a landlord if it wasn’t for the RRB and council licensing that all increase rent for the tenants.
But just like the digital id that the government appears to be forcing upon us they don’t take any notice of the people that elected them. I feel a rebellion coming.
I for one am glad I’m out.
Member Since July 2023 - Comments: 13
9:34 AM, 19th October 2025, About 6 months ago
I’m confused why any private landlord is still holding a property. It was a great investment, it’s not anymore. It’s a shame to let the government force all the property into corporations. But it seems they just dont like individuals holding property. The stock market offers better returns and you can get your money back without paying 10000’s + in fees.
I’m so glad to be out, it’s so less stressful not having to deal with tenants and agents and fees. Let alone all the planned destruction
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 108
9:53 AM, 19th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Phil T at 19/10/2025 – 09:34
Successive governments have sold off our utilities and infrastructure to overseas corporations. Now the same will happen to an increasing percentage of British homes. At least local landlords recycled their profits back into the local economy. Any profits from these new players will disappear abroad.
Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
11:33 AM, 19th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Jack Jennings at 19/10/2025 – 09:53
It’s the same with coffee shops, Starbucks is owned by Gates, Costa by Coca Cola, it used to be owned by corporation tax paying Whitbread.
Member Since October 2025 - Comments: 1
12:29 PM, 19th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Jack Jennings at 19/10/2025 – 01:42
Hi I’m in the same boat however would be interested in hearing the alternatives you mention in your post. Looked at a few options but can’t come up with anything that gives me a good ongoing return. Appreciate your thoughts.
Regards
Jacqueline
Member Since August 2014 - Comments: 175
6:42 PM, 19th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Steve Ticket at 19/10/2025 – 07:22
Agreed, the PRS used to be a low risk/medium return investment, the government has turned it into a high risk/low return investment, that’s why I’m also out as soon as I can.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1999
12:01 PM, 20th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Bristol Landlord at 18/10/2025 – 19:13
How lazy they are I don’t know….they do seem to be pretty committed to their MPs salaries and their MPs pensions…. but I do think that you are right that this government is deceitful.
I think it is certainly true to say that this government “…avoids accountability by promising young voters to provide more new built houses, which it knows it can’t do, but instead forces changes to the law by means of the RRB to allow tenants, if they so choose, to effectively legally squat in their landlords property.”
The bigger problem with that is that the effect of the RRB and the delays and other mess in the courts will make it less risky for a landlord to take money from Serco or one of the other two companies housing asylum seekers and economic migrants than to take many other tenants who might otherwise need accommodation in the PRS.
Because this government, as you correctly point out, is deceitful, when this mess is finally inflicted upon the market (and inflicted upon tenants), this government will probably still try to use the last government, Reform or private landlords as their scapegoat.
But the truth is that the real problem will be this government introducing a bill that did not create reasonable, reciprocal rights and responsibilities for both landlords and tenants and a courts system that could implement those changes efficiently.