Rishi Sunak to push through Renters (Reform) Bill despite Tory opposition

Rishi Sunak to push through Renters (Reform) Bill despite Tory opposition

9:23 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago 29

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The government will proceed with the Renters (Reform) Bill with a second reading scheduled for Monday, the Financial Times reveals.

The Bill, which aims to end no-fault evictions and make renting safer and fairer for millions of people in England, was first promised in 2019.

But it has been delayed due to opposition from some Conservative MPs.

However, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, apparently told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that he wanted to push ahead with the legislation, according to senior government figures.

Second reading in the House of Commons

The Bill will have its second reading in the House of Commons and will then be carried over into the next Parliamentary session that begins with the King’s Speech on November 7.

Michael Gove, the levelling-up secretary, is understood to have won the internal battle over the bill, which would abolish assured short-hold tenancies and Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.

Under current law, landlords can evict tenants without giving a reason and apply for a court order after just two months.

The Bill would also give landlords stronger rights to repossess properties where tenants exhibit anti-social behaviour or build up rent arrears.

It would also hold landlords who let out unsafe homes to account.

Reflecting the concerns of many Tory MPs

The Financial Times revealed last month that the Bill had been put on ice, reflecting the concerns of many Tory MPs.

Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the House of Commons, did not include the Bill’s second reading in her announcement of business for the remainder of the current parliamentary session.

Angela Rayner, the shadow levelling-up secretary, had complained at the recent Labour Party conference that the ‘zombie government’ was failing to progress the legislation.

And this week, a group of 30 charities and non-profit organisations — from Citizens Advice to the Child Poverty Action Group — urged Mr Sunak to pass the bill, saying that delays would risk causing ‘more avoidable hardship and suffering’.

News will be welcomed by Britain’s 11 million renters

Polly Neate, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said the news will be welcomed by Britain’s 11 million renters.

She told the FT: “Every day 540 people are slapped with a no-fault eviction notice and given just two months to find a new home.

“For them, needless delays and hold-ups to making renting safer and fairer are unacceptable.

“A robust Renters (Reform) Bill has the potential to free people from the constant threat of a no-fault eviction.

“It would reduce homelessness and hold landlords who let out unsafe homes to account.”

The government says it remains ‘absolutely committed to delivering a fairer private rented sector for tenants and landlords through the Renters (Reform) Bill’ and that its ‘second reading will follow shortly’.


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Nick Van Hoogstraten

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10:04 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

Terrible news. The Tories should never have started this ball rolling in 2019. This RRB was probably written by Shelter with Gove slapping the Dept of Levelling Down's logo on the front. I have already evicted due to the White Paper from last year. Landlords will have both hands tied behind their back now and not be able to manage difficult tenants. I'm selling for sure.

Mick Roberts

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10:13 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

Stopping Income Tax will be welcomed by 30 million people. They'd all be worse off in a year.
Renters jumped for joy when Selective Licensing was introduced. The smart educated renters now know it has increased their rents & stopped the Benefit tenants ever moving again.

It will most definitely not reduce homelessness. It will increase it. And will increase rents for more ever increasing new build standards.

Jo Westlake

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10:14 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

Will there still be 11 million renters if this gets pushed through without serious modification?

How many landlords will simply decide not to continue operating in such a hostile environment?

Carol

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10:16 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

I have already sold 80% of my portfolio. Only 1 going to another LL. The other 20% have already had a Section 21 issued in anticipation of the bill. My advice, issue section 21 now. You can invest your money for better returns and far less risk

Peter Varley

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10:22 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

I am extremely sceptical that, in the real world, we will see any of the promised "benefits" to LL's. For example, the promised quicker process for evicting problem tenants sounds like typical pre-election BS to me! Also of increasing concern is the idiotic idea of rent controls; these have been proven elsewhere to be extremely damaging to the PRS. As soon as I see a credible timetable for rent controls effecting my properties, I will issue my tenants Section 13 notices increasing rents to current market values. Part of the build-up to the next election involves a competition between the main parties to see who can give PRS LL's the biggest kicking; neither party gives a flying f*** at a rolling doughnut for the health and sustainability of the PRS !

C-cider

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10:58 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

Homelessness is not caused by Section 21. Every home released back to market houses another family whether they own or rent. (Minor exception bring when the property is subsequently used as a holiday let).

What causes homelessness if the government’s failure to stop the boats.

They don’t want to stop the boats because growth is the Holy Grail of the Ponzi scheme we call Capitalism.

Reluctant Landlord

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11:29 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

1 x accelerated possession claim will be issued today upong expiry of S21.
1 x S21 wil be issued on Friday, and another is scheduled in 10 days time (if tenant does not pay up for damage carried out before then).
Post Monday I wil be sitting down and looking at each and every existing tenancy and planning a strategy for each. If this means getting a tenant out to rule out any possibility of being stuck with them post RRB implimentation then so be it.
If I do continue with letting post RRB then rents will be taken to max possible rate and no tenancy will be offered without a full unilimited guarantor.
You wanna play hard ball governemtn/shelter et al? So can I!

Paul

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11:34 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

I would suggest, whilst we all air our concerns here to contact your local MP ( which ever party they are with ) and indicate how this will effect tenants in the real world.

Anne Noon

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11:44 AM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 18/10/2023 - 11:29
I thought that we had another year to go before we had to reconsider our options. So I am now glad that have served notice on my tenants in one property that the Council is CPO-ing. One of whom owes me 8 months rent (did not evict earlier as I thought the Council would be completing the process in July this year, but they are so slow, so have decided to serve Section21 to get rid of them asap.
What is the accelerated procedure? I thought that the Section 8 proceedings took months.

Reluctant Landlord

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12:04 PM, 18th October 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul at 18/10/2023 - 11:34
are all MP's able to vote/have their say at the second reading stage? Is it an open session?

If so then I am pinging off an email to my MP pronto!

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