Tenant reform bill could soon become landlords’ charter, campaigners say

The government has backed down under pressure from landlord Tory MPs to water down its long-promised plan to ban no-fault evictions.

Michael Gove has written to Tory backbenchers to announce measures to “strengthen landlord protections” in a tenant reform bill aimed at providing more security and better value for tenants.

The long-delayed bill was introduced to parliament in May last year to deliver on a promise in the 2019 Conservative manifesto to abolish so-called “no-fault” evictions under Section 21.

But a leaked letter on Thursday showed Gove making a series of concessions which he claimed were “supported by major landowner groups”.

Activists say the leaked letter was written by sunsuggesting the long-delayed bill is fast becoming a “Landlord’s Charter.”

The Renters Reform Coalition (RRC) accused the government of “making significant concessions to landlord groups and pro-landlord Conservative MPs”.

Delays ensued and it was not until 2023 that the Tenants (Reform) Bill was tabled in the House of Commons.

A group representing landlords urged ministers to “work hard to ensure the bill gets the scrutiny it deserves”, criticizing the lack of progress so far as “volatile and damaging” for all parties involved.

When asked about the progress of the bill earlier this month, Communities Minister Jacob Young told parliament: “We are absolutely committed to repealing Section 21 and I am personally committed to that as soon as there is Ability, we will take back the bill as soon as possible. To.”

Mr Young’s leaked letter states the bill will return to the House of Commons for report stage when Parliament returns from the Easter holidays.

It noted that “colleagues have expressed concerns about whether the new tenancy system will run smoothly for landlords and tenants”.

The government has previously said it will only repeal Section 21 until the court system is reformed to ensure it is a fair process for landlords as well.

Regarding clause 21, the letter states that an amendment will be proposed requiring “the Lord Chancellor to publish an assessment of barriers to possession and court readiness before repealing clause 21 of an existing lease”.

RRC campaign manager Tom Darling said the government was “offering concessions to tenants that will prevent the vast majority of tenants from seeing the end of Section 21 before the next election, as we have promised”.

He added: “The Government’s flagship legislation to help renters is fast becoming a charter for landlords – look at the victory announced today by landlord groups who have paid a huge price for the policy in return for their support.

“The bill needs to come back to Parliament as soon as possible and renters want to see significant changes to the bill in the House of Lords; otherwise this legislation will do little to improve the situation and in some cases will make things worse.”

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), said: “Rumors, speculation and informal briefings about the future of the Bill are causing huge concern and uncertainty for tenants and responsible landlords. “.

He added: “The Government has the power to end Section 21 repossessions. Our focus is on ensuring the replacement system is effective and fair to both tenants and responsible landlords. The proposed changes will achieve this balance.

“Ministers now need to work hard to ensure the bill gets the scrutiny it deserves.

“The lack of progress and uncertainty about the future is destabilizing and damaging for those who live and work in the private rented sector. It’s time to end this.”

The Lib Dems said the bill was “in pieces” and accused Gove of caving in to Conservative MPs.

Housing spokesperson Helen Morgan said: “Michael Gove has caved to Tory MPs, meaning the party’s manifesto promise to ban no-fault evictions is in tatters.

“This watered-down plan means the vast majority of renters still face eviction through no fault of their own.

“The Lib Dems will continue to fight to get a fair deal for renters who have been utterly let down by the Conservative government.”

Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said it was “cowardly for the government to betray renters rather than stand up to the intimidation of a handful of MPs into watering down the bill”.

“Only an airtight bill can curb the deep-seated inequities in England’s rigged tenancy system,” she said.

Labour’s shadow housing secretary Matthew Pennycook accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Housing Secretary Michael Gove of “once again choosing to put the interests of party management ahead of the rightful interests of the British people”.

He said Labor had vowed to “immediately abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and give renters the safeguards and rights they deserve”: “After years of delays, private renters have every right to feel that vital protections have been watered down Anger,” the Conservatives promised them. “

A government source said: “This is a balanced set of measures that delivers on our manifesto commitment to eradicate unfair no-fault evictions and will ensure a fairer private rented sector for tenants and landlords.

“The bill will return to the House of Commons shortly and amendments will be scrutinized, debated and voted on in the usual way.”