Renters’ Reform Bill passes but with no timeline for ending ‘no fault’ evictions
The Renters’ Reform Bill has passed in the House of Commons, but will include an indefinite delay to ministers’ promises to end “no-fault” evictions.
MPs voted in favour of the legislation on Wednesday, including a new amendment from the Government which would postpone a ban on “no fault” Section 21 evictions until a review of the courts system has taken place.
The amendment to delay the evictions was passed by 287 votes to 144, with rent reform campaigners describing the move as an “incredibly frustrating cave-in”.
The Government first promised to ban the notices five years ago, which allow landlords to evict renters without having to give a reason at just two months’ notice.
The type of eviction, which was introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s Government in the 1988 Housing Act, is a leading cause of homelessness, according to Shelter.
But despite the Renters’ Reform Act being drawn up in part to honour the Government’s promise to rip up such eviction powers, it will now proceed to the House of Lords with no clear timeline for when Section 21s will be scrapped.
The bill was also intended to end fixed-term tenancies, introduce a decent home standard, establish a new ombudsman and aim to provide protections for families in receipt of benefits.
The legislation has faced numerous delays amid threats of rebellion from Tory backbenchers, many of whom are landlords. They warned that ending Section 21s would clog the courts with complex eviction cases.
However, none of the nine amendments which were suggested by Tory MPs were selected on Wednesday, staving off an anticipated rebellion.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove, who spearheaded the legislation, said earlier on Wednesday that he “hopes” a ban on no-fault evictions will become law before the next general election, but refused to offer concrete assurances.
A Labour amendment to ensure the abolition of Section 21 evictions would come into force on royal assent was rejected by 282 votes to 158.
Generation Rent, a campaign group for private renters, said: “Abolishing Section 21 is the heart of this legislation. This has confirmed that we have no set time for that to happen. Another incredibly frustrating cave-in.”
Tory MPs also vented their frustration over the decision to delay a ban on “no fault” evictons, warning that it would delay protections for private renters.
Natalie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover, labelled the bill a “betrayal” of the Government’s 2019 manifesto commitment.
She said the Renters’ Reform Bill “does not go far enough now in dealing with the fundamental challenges” of the private rented sector, adding: “Sadly, the original principle of the bill, which was to create a fair and responsible new rented sector, has been undermined by the Government’s amendments.”
Matthew Pennycook, Labour’s shadow housing minister, also accused ministers of “grubby political horse trading”.
“We remain firmly of the view that the bill is not yet fit for purpose and that it must be strengthened to the benefit of renters,” he told the Commons on Wednesday.
“As a result of the fact that the Government appear determined to do the opposite, and further tilt the playing field to the landlord interest.”
But Tory backbencher Anthony Mangnall, whose amendment aimed at watering down the Government’s ambition to abolish fixed term tenancies was not selected on Wednesday, warned the bill could have “dire consequences” for future levels of housing supply.
He claimed it was possible to ban Section 21 evictions whilst also retaining fixed-term tenancies, saying the bill must include “leeway” for them to remain beyond certain instances within the student housing market.
“The consequences of removing fixed-term tenancies is essentially the state turning around and saying to individuals what they can or cannot do with their own private properties,” he told the Commons.
“We are sending completely the wrong message with dire consequences for future levels of housing supply, we’re making an enormous mistake which will reduce long-term lets in favour of short-term lets and result in many properties being taken off the rental market.”
