Renters Reform Bill pushed back and Rent controls off the table

Housing Minister Eddie Hughes was answering written questions to Parliament and indicated that the Renters Reform Bill that includes proposals to ban Section 21 would be pushed back. After previously stating the White paper would be published this Spring he now seems to be much less certain on timescales.

Olivia Blake,Labour MP, asked: “When the Renters Reform white paper will be published and what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals on Renters Reform?”

Hughes said: “We are absolutely committed to delivering a better deal for renters and will be bringing forward a Renters Reform Bill in this parliamentary session. We will publish a White Paper shortly that will set out more detail on our reform proposals.”

This now leaves the door open until Spring 2023.

Labour MP, Rachael Maskell, asked Hughes: “If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying further controls to rents in (a) York and (b) other high cost areas.”

Hughes responded on Rent Controls: ” The Government does not support the introduction of rent controls. Historical evidence suggests that rent controls would discourage investment in the sector and would lead to declining property standards as a result, which would not help landlords or tenants. Recent international examples also suggest that rent controls can have an inadvertent negative impact on the supply of housing and may encourage more illegal subletting.

“In the Queen’s Speech 2022, we committed to introducing a Renters Reform Bill in this parliamentary session. Through this, we will abolish ‘no fault’ evictions by removing Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, providing security for tenants in the private rented sector and empowering them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of retaliatory eviction.

“It is important to note that currently if tenants with periodic tenancies believe the level of rent increase is unfair, they can already refer the matter to the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for independent adjudication. The Tribunal will consider whether the rent increase is in line with market rent.”