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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.”
Cider Drinker
18:50 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
It is disgraceful that the NRLA want this Bill passing despite the concerns of elected MPs.
Section 21 doesn’t cause homelessness. It simply prioritises good tenants over bad tenants. If a landlord ‘evicts’ a tenant (it is actually the Courts that grant possession orders), the property is either re-let to a (hopefully) better tenant or sold to an owner-occupier.
Homelessness is caused by a the abject failure of government to…
1) control immigration
2) build sufficient suitable homes.
rebecca anelay
19:39 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
I wrote to my MP Edward Leigh , who apparently is on the RRB review committee and told him how I had made 2 families homeless because I could never except a situation whereby I had to grovel to a judge to get my hard-earned money back if and when I wanted to sell up...but thinking about it, I've just wasted my time as Labour will destroy us as soon as Ms hypocrite Rainer gets in!!
I have spent hours looking at a Serco contract in a bid to hang on to a property as a way of keeping control when section 21 goes but it's too risky for me as it doesn't seem to cover damage by 'tenants'....I have a sale agreed on this property and so I've abandoned any hope of keeping it...one less lovely house no longer available to rent. 5 plus percent in a bank for zero effort . I can't fight anymore!
Duncan Forbes
20:14 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
I have sold in summer 2023 because of the Renters Reform bill and the Torys are going to reduce CGT from 28% to 24% cost me an extra 12K cant they make there mind up so annoyed
Still there will be a Labour government later this year and i will probably think I’m lucky.
The other Blogs are right i had a hell of a time with the courts tenants left before the 3rd hearing have a friend no rent 27K down so far going through courts over 3 years now .To risky investment.
Rerktyne
20:26 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Frank Jennings at 08/03/2024 - 10:59You are so right! I will now never let to anyone but the following: a very rich foreign student who is only here for a year and who has a great life back home. He will pay 12 months up front and a deposit. After 12 months he is gone because he wants to go and HAS to go!
This means that no local renter will rent from me. I was bitten by the tenant snake and survived - just! He had the whole system on his side ! Why? Not altruism! They simply don’t want to house him themselves!!!!! If councils had to house every bad tenant immediately they would all go bankrupt!
So government makes renting unattractive!
Irony: the most important necessity , good landlords, is being discouraged by idiots in government! Why stop there? Lets discourage doctors, teachers, nurses et all too!
BTW I was a fantastic landlord - until the snake bit me! No more! Never again!
PAUL BARTLETT
20:48 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Cathie French at 08/03/2024 - 16:16
Complaints about Section 21 No STATED Fault completely missed that they enable accountability free tenants who are free to take their problems to an unsuspecting landlord who gets no visibility of that.
If Gove had any sincerity about a balanced reform, both tenants and landlords would be on the register and accountable for their behaviour.
Section 8 as the only mechanism means fewer landlords willing to take the chance on a working Court system and tenants fighting for fewer properties at much greater cost.
A lose lose change.
NRLA doesn't speak sense and definitely not for me.
Jim K
20:55 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Duncan Forbes at 08/03/2024 - 20:14
Hi.
The other side of ghat coin is that there was a larger CGT allowance then.
GlanACC
21:21 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Frank Jennings at 08/03/2024 - 12:10
Yes, private bailiffs are available, they are managed by the high court and called sheriffs. Contact them on 0333 001 5100 - The sheriffs office and they will tell you what is needed.
TJP
21:31 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by rebecca anelay at 08/03/2024 - 19:39
The next crisis heading our way will be when we sell but the tenants wont leave. It's just around the corner.
Rerktyne
21:58 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TJP at 08/03/2024 - 21:31
I know of one landlady who shot her tenant! I’ll bet the council was secretly relieved.
If all tenants and landlords were forced to be good there would be no problem!
Frank Jennings
22:47 PM, 8th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Well when the law fails the people, and justice is not done nor seen to be done, and becomes corrupt, then don't be surprised if the people seek the justice they have been denied, by other means!
Unfortunately the government are playing a very dangerous game with peoples lives and their property.
It's not going to end well! We are all in the hen basket, and its getting hotter!
Let's hope the MP's can make the govenment see common sense and quash the RRB, Section 24 and keep Section 21, bring back taper relief and lower CGT. They may even build a few more houses and stop the rubber Dinghy's. On the other hand....
Pigs all fed and ready for take off!