Renters’ Rights Bill is facing legislative delays

Labour’s pivotal Renters’ Rights Bill has been stalled in the UK’s Parliamentary machinery and will not become law until at least the autumn, the Financial Times reports.

The legislative logjam has also hit other planned laws, including those aimed at employment rules, and the Bills will not gain Royal Assent before MPs break for their summer holiday from late July to early September.

News of the Renters’ Rights Bill delay led Dan Wilson Craw, the deputy chief executive of Generation Rent, to say: “These delays are a massive setback for the 12 million renters across England.

“As well as thousands of renters who will face homelessness as a result of Section 21 in the months ahead, most private renters will continue to face uncertainty over their homes as long as their landlord doesn’t need a reason to evict.”

He added: “The government’s promise to abolish the draconian Section 21 is one of their most popular policies so we need to see urgency to get this into law and finally give renters much-needed stability.”

Section 21 on life support

Mairi MacRae, Shelter’s director of communications, told the newspaper that around 25,000 households have faced homelessness threats due to Section 21 since Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister nearly a year ago.

She said: “For every day the government doesn’t pass this bill, another 70 households will be threatened with homelessness because no fault evictions are being kept on life support for no good reason.”

Ms MacRae says Labour needs to make good on its manifesto commitment and pass the Bill quickly – and give an implementation date.

A government official told the Financial Times: “We never said we would definitely get either bill on to the statute books by the summer.”

Propertymark warns of staggered rollout for the Bill

Meanwhile, Propertymark also says it is unlikely that the Bill will secure Royal Assent before the Parliamentary summer recess.

However, it is warning that core components, such as revisions to tenancy agreements and possession rules, could still take effect later this year.

Other complex issues, including the proposed landlord and agent database and the Decent Homes Standard, are not anticipated to be implemented until 2026 or 2027.

It says that Baroness Taylor, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, has confirmed that the commencement date will be established via secondary legislation once the Bill is passed.

She assured the sector of ‘sufficient time’ to adapt to the changes.

She also says that the government will provide clear, accessible guidance to support landlords and agents, complemented by a comprehensive public awareness campaign to inform tenants about the reforms.

Share This Article