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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.”
Rerktyne
2:14 AM, 9th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Common sense was removed from housing policy years ago! It’s banned!
G Master
4:37 AM, 9th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Whose side is Property118 on? Landlords or tenants? Why is it sending war cries out to rally the opposition, I don't know.
Gary Dully
6:55 AM, 9th March 2024, About 2 months ago
The whole political approach to housing is ridiculous.
It involves punishing investors with taxation, (section 24), punishment of landlords, (unlimited fines), unlimited legislation, unreasonable legal repossession methods, restrictions on claiming legitimate expenses, taxation surcharges, planning restrictions, right to rent a home legislation, inability to charge set up costs, finance surcharges from banks, huge capital deposits to tie up to obtain finance, public scapegoating by charity organisations, antisocial knob heads being rehoused, benefit clawbacks, rent repayment orders, selective licensing charges and that’s if you’re a law abiding landlord,
I wonder why those MPs are making a fuss?
Gary Dully
7:00 AM, 9th March 2024, About 2 months ago
The game of landlord Kerplunk is just about over thanks to this government.
GlanACC
8:07 AM, 9th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Frank Jennings at 08/03/2024 - 22:47
Frank, I thought Pink Floyd had cornered the market in flyng pigs, but what you wish for would launch the whole herd into the sky. Its not going to happen cos Labour will be in by the end of the year and they are the saviour of the great unwashed. Luckily I have 6 great tenants (been with me for years) and having sold off most of my portfolio I have no desire to expand it again.
Iain Edwards
18:48 PM, 9th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Removal of S21 removes massive costs for local authorities as they need to house evicted tenants. S8 eviction is a “get out of jail” card for the council - so natural that they are desperate for the change. With bad tenants then desperate for help - they start reaching out to Shelter - and the Charity grows. So the government have helped the coffers of local councils, and just boosted a charity that has been a pain for them. As a Long term landlord we have used S8 when required - it is not an issue. The issue is the time the courts take that is all
Rerktyne
19:47 PM, 9th March 2024, About 2 months ago
S21 was introduced for a purpose. It gave landlords the confidence to take a risk and house people! But the rental market was then buggered by the moronic tories and so they try get out of jail measures. All they will achieve is a further reduction of the rental market supply. Great!
There is no way you can stop anyone from doing short lettings. You just find a decent person who is guaranteed to leave. Foreign students are best.
And that way you create even more problems for the govt. A good thing!
Then if you have grown up kids etc just let them b&b the place. Legal!!
Best thing: create massive shortages for the idiots!
Then, one century later they might build another house or two!
Nizam Uddin
22:01 PM, 9th March 2024, About 2 months ago
It's a complete joke both the HMCS & Government Legislation, it feels like the landlords are always being punished and made to suffer while they favour the tenants even if they abuse the system and making fool of the legislation. Not all tenants are bad (some are fantastic) but majority I've come across and dealt with are bad and have no respect for either the property, landlord and or the system and always abuse it. Majority want to get into council housing waiting list for permanent home and they flaunt the system where by they intentionally purposely cause damage to the property and than try to get health office involved by complaining about repairs etc and than try to get court eviction so that they get into the council housing waiting list by ways of getting priority as they would be deemed to be homeless. And the Public Protection Office of the council is a joke to as they tend to believe the tenant even though landlord provides precondition photos, condition of the property prior to renting it out and yet they tend to side with tenants and make landlords life hell, the court also doesn't help the landlords because as I write this I'm going through repossession order and eviction it's been a long journey started the repossession process around June 2023 and taken six months for the repossession order to be obtained using s21 and than having to wait for court bailief eviction date for the last 3 months, and than finally got a eviction bailief date five months time Aug 2024, during this time tenant causing so much damage beyond deposit money, and reporting any operatives attending the property for repairs to social services, police etc for inconvenience and harassment etc, and there's no sympathy or help towards the landlords at all. What the council don't realise is that a lot of the private landlords are moving away from this buy to let and renting to ordinary people. The system is not balanced or fair at all. The Citizens Advice, Shelter Homes etc are advising tenants and partially to be blamed for not being honest and telling tenant off when they are in wrong, also don't realise at the end of the day if landlords wants their property back they will get it back at the end even going through hell but will ultimately kick the tenant out and they will be the one losing out and living in substandard properties of all good landlords pull out. Policy should be made fair with greater ground for landlords as they are the ones invested and taken out hughe amount their life savings to purchase and to maintain it. People living here all their life and paid taxes can't even get on the housing waiting list yet people came over recently from overseas using this abuse and than getting houses yet they haven't contributed or paid into the system a penny but getting new homes while people whom lived here all their life can't what a joke
Nizam Uddin
22:13 PM, 9th March 2024, About 2 months ago
S21 shouldn't be abolished, instead greater control to be given to landlords to maintain, take back control of their property if tenant deliberately intentionally purposely cause damage to the property causing thousands of pounds worth of loss, yet tenant is not losing out financially but instead get protection and rewards and all sorts of help.. absolutely joke I'm talking from many personal experiences, people coming over recently getting houses using this loop hole and by calling health office to favour them and than getting court eviction favouring tenant absolutely shocking.. people living here their whole life living homeless and can't on the council waiting list for housing..s21 safe guards landlords and gives some control for their property.
Cider Drinker
8:11 AM, 10th March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Iain Edwards at 09/03/2024 - 18:48
Removal of Section doesn’t remove the Council’s costs. It just means that those in temporary accommodation when the law comes into force will remain in temporary accommodation indefinitely and, bad tenants will enjoy the homes that the PRS provides indefinitely.
Same costs, different people.