Reform UK vow to scrap the Renters’ Rights Act

Reform UK will pledge to scrap the Renters’ Rights Act if it wins the next general election, with deputy leader Richard Tice arguing the law is already reducing supply and pushing up rents.

The Act secured Royal Assent in October after it was introduced by former housing secretary Angela Rayner and builds on the earlier Renters’ Reform Bill first unveiled by the Conservative government in 2019.

Labour said the legislation would ‘level the playing field and create a fairer housing market for all’.

In a speech in Birmingham, Mr Tice described the Act as ‘well intentioned’, but said it was ‘already reducing the supply of properties to rent and therefore increasing the prices’.

Too risky for landlords

He continued: “The issue is many landlords are now concluding that’s it’s too risky to be able to essentially remove an occupier/tenant if they want, for example, to sell the property, if the tenant is not paying.

“There’s a balance of risk and reward.

“Too many landlords have said enough is enough.”

Mr Tice added: “Again, it’s well intentioned in terms of the issues around the period for notice to quit, but actually it’s just gone way beyond this.”

Plans are a ‘disgrace’

The chief executive of Generation Rent, Ben Twomey, said: “Forcing people back into insecure and unsafe homes is not a promise, it’s a threat levelled at England’s 11 million private renters.

“Our homes are the foundations of our lives, so it is disgraceful to see Reform UK pledging to roll back new and essential protections that would improve the quality of our homes and help us to stay in them for longer.”

He added: “Reform UK had nothing to say at the debates about the Renters’ Rights Bill when it was passing through Parliament.

“They also haven’t spoken to renter groups like us about their plans, which would be a gift to unscrupulous landlords who are responsible for the poor conditions renters face right now.”

RRC also disagrees

On X/Twitter, the Renters’ Reform Coalition said: “Over two-thirds of the public supports the end of Section 21 evictions.

“So, why does Reform want to repeal renters’ rights?

“Scrapping the Renters’ Rights Act would just mean more homelessness and insecurity for England’s 11 million renters. Reform should think again.”

Labour’s ‘daft’ reforms

Reform says it would introduce a ‘great repeal bill’ to reverse the rental reforms and other Labour measures it describes as being ‘daft’.

The repeal would sit within a broader economic plan focused on investment and growth.

Housing policy would be absorbed into a new Great Office of State, the Department of Business, Trade and Energy.

The proposed department would take on responsibility for business regulation and energy as well as housing.

Smarter regulation planned

Mr Tice has also set out plans for ‘smarter regulation’, lower energy bills and a British sovereign wealth fund to support manufacturing.

The Local Government Pension Scheme, under the proposals, would be converted into a fund of up to £575bn to back domestic growth.

The party says it would prioritise strategic industries, including steel, oil, gas and defence.

It will also call for ‘heavy tariffs and tight quotas’ on Chinese cars, citing concerns about Britain’s automotive sector.

Watch Richard Tice announce the repeal of the Renters’ Rights Act: