Tenant awareness of Renters’ Rights Bill remains low
1 year ago | 11 comments
Senior Conservatives and landlords ‘plot’ to block the Renters’ Rights Bill
9:41 AM, 1st April 2025, 1 year ago
24
Senior figures within the Conservative Party have allegedly engaged in confidential discussions with landlords to derail the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill, The Guardian reveals.
The meeting, which was arranged by shadow housing minister Baroness Jane Scott, explored options such as initiating a court battle under human rights legislation.
There was also a discussion about stalling progress through numerous amendments in the House of Lords.
The gathering included representatives from the National Residential Landlords Association and Get Living.
Judicial reviews and amendments
The newspaper says that attendees reported that suggestions ranged from judicial reviews to leveraging repeated legislative revisions to push any decisions well into the autumn.
These discussions have ignited allegations of a concerted effort between the Tories and the property sector to obstruct the Bill faces in its final Parliamentary stages.
Ms Scott also expressed frustration over the lack of data showing landlords leaving the PRS because of the Bill, prompting attendees to offer help in sourcing the required statistics.
‘Fewer rental properties available’
Defending the party’s reluctance to adopt Awaab’s law, Ms Scott argued that landlords lack the organisation to meet stringent repair deadlines.
However, this stance drew mixed reactions, the Guardian says, with some saying that this would improve landlord preparedness.
Despite the Conservatives’ earlier attempts to introduce the Renters (Reform) Bill, Kemi Badenoch has adopted a firmer stance against such changes.
A Conservative spokesperson said: “The Conservatives have been cautioning that this bill is profoundly flawed, as it will result in fewer rental properties available.
“As is customary with all legislation, the official opposition consults privately with various stakeholders to gather their perspectives.”
Abolition of Section 21
Central to Labour’s legislative package is the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, set to be implemented once the Bill gains Royal Assent.
Other provisions aim to enforce ‘Awaab’s law’, mandating prompt essential repairs by landlords.
Previously, Michael Gove, as housing secretary, pushed the Renters (Reform) Bill but his efforts were cut short by the calling of the General Election.
At the meeting, Get Living apparently revealed it had enlisted a top barrister to assess a potential human rights challenge, an approach Ms Scott reportedly endorsed.
One participant noted her belief that such a legal move could halt the Bill entirely.
This follows a failed Scottish challenge against a temporary rent cap which argued against property rights violations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
However, a Get Living spokesperson told the newspaper it supported the Bill’s success, while acknowledging worries about its current form potentially creating legal pitfalls.
Some want the Bill passed
Not all property representatives at the meeting were comfortable with the tougher approach, with some pushing for swift passage of the Bill with minor tweaks to ensure more certainty for landlords.
Anny Cullum from the campaign group Acorn, told the newspaper: “The comments by Baroness Scott have confirmed what we suspected: that there is a coordinated attempt by landlords and their supporters within the Lords to frustrate the progress of the Renters’ Rights Bill.”
She added: “Unelected and unaccountable Tory peers are using underhand tactics to deliberately delay this vital legislation even more – legislation that many of them supported in its previous guise under the last government.”
Tags:
Conservative Party, Housing Legislation, Landlords, legal challenges, Lords amendments, property industry, rental reforms, renters rights
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Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3515 - Articles: 5
8:15 AM, 2nd April 2025, About 1 year ago
well I’m up for any delay by any means possible.
At this point I’m happy to sit back and watch this being thrashed out as ultimately it means no change at all to the status quo in legislative terms.
The impact all just the uncertainty this all has and will have on the PRS, LL’s and ultimately tenants is of course entirely measurable, so as this keeps getting kicked to the curb or delayed etc, the Labour push to get this through may waiver. They have bigger fights they must win.
They are up to their eyes in poop as it is with much bigger issues afoot. Trade wars, benefit cuts and the like and doing zero on immigration so it hits another high. Recession is simply a statistic on a bar chart that hasn’t been printed yet. We all know its already happening. Big named companies closing, others issuing trading warnings and share prices sliding.
They have bitten off more they can chew and made a complete mess of things to date. The reverse Midas Touch – and everyone is pee’d off with what is going on including Labour voters.
The Spring budget has been slated and the October one is looming and that’s not going to be pretty. Just in time for the winter when guess what, energy bills will be going up again.
I’d say RRB ping pong is exactly what is needed now. I plan on writing to Baroness Scott, other Lords, Kemi and a number of Tory MPs (and my own pillock Labour MP) pointing out the amendments that are on the table, and supplying them with a simply ‘Who benefits’ column at the end and ‘Further implications’ so its obvious that neither LL, tenant or the national interest will be served by such plans.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 620
10:36 AM, 2nd April 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 02/04/2025 – 08:15
That is my feeling also and the longer they ping pong and they delay this ill thought out bill the better.
If the RRB becomes law the government will have a bigger problem than the uncollected rubbish on the streets there will be even more homeless on the streets. I am leaving some property vacant until I see what the end result looks like but will probably have to sell.
Member Since January 2016 - Comments: 16
10:14 AM, 4th April 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 01/04/2025 – 11:00Awaabs law was the best thing to happen to public sector housing, which has always seemed to be a rule unto itself.
I notice, though, that unlike the rent reform bill it will be phased in. to allow the public sector to aclimatise to it. and if they don’t adhere to it they can be taken to court, which, with the amount of problems within that sector, will gum up the court systems even more.The councils can fine the PRS for wrong doing so why can’t the PRS fine the councils. That would be a dream world!
Member Since March 2016 - Comments: 50
7:44 AM, 5th April 2025, About 1 year ago
Finally a good approach! Where can we all join with a say 100 pound contribution to help With this derailing ? Power to Landlords ! Indeed I have always felt strongly my rights were being trampled, being treated so differently, being expropriated, step by step, being vilified whilst working very hard, being taxed differently, not being allowed to deduct interest where every other business is, having to pay higher stamp duty than everyone else, being denied help from a justice system everyone else gets. It will be successful and stop our rights and protections being eroded. Look at the success lawyers all have with stopping off the stop the boats attempts……!! Finally. I never thought of this but it is slapping us I the face. Landlords, we all have the problem we are not as united as we should and can be….. but we must be united. Time for a well funded Landlords Union armed to the teeth with kick ass lawyers. Instead of a powerless useless weak nrla.hands off our properties, income, pension, work, rights to protect ourselves from bad tenants. Stop demonising us to grab attention of voters and newspaper readers !