The renters reform bill that would have abolished no-fault evictions will not become law before the general election.
The Conservative’s flagship bill to ban landlords from evicting tenants without a reason has been dropped ahead of parliament being prorogued today.
In an update for MPs on Thursday, leader of the house Penny Mordaunt did not include the bill among the legislation that will be debated before the proroguing.
The bill was passed through parliament in April however no specific timeline was given as to when it would become law.
Speaking at the bill’s third reading at the time, Levelling Up Minister and MP for Redcar, Jacob Young, argued it would create a fairer private rented sector for both landlords and tenants, delivering on the government’s 2019 manifesto commitment.
In response to the news, Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said it was “hugely disappointing” that the bill would not make it into law.
“The news comes despite the fact that the bill was in a state which would work for tenants and responsible landlords.
“There has been too much dither and delay in government, and a failure to be clear about how to ensure changes would work in practice. Critically, the market now faces yet more crippling uncertainty about what the future of the private rented sector looks like.
“Reforming the sector will be an important issue for the next government and we will work constructively with them to ensure changes are fair and workable. That means empowering tenants to challenge rogue and criminal landlords whilst ensuring the confidence of responsible landlords to stay in the market,” he added.
Politicians and campaigners have posted on social media site ‘X’ sharing their frustrations about the news.
Matthew Pennycook, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, said: “The Tories' decision to cave in to vested interests and abandon the renters reform bill leaves in tatters the promises they made to private tenants five years ago.
“Labour will pass renters reform legislation that levels decisively the playing field between landlords and tenants.”
Generation Rent posted on its account saying: “Abandoning the renters reform bill as parliament dissolves means the government has failed in its promise to renters at the last election to deliver a fairer tenancy system. Renters deserve better.”
There was consensus among many on ‘X’ that the next government “needed to do better” in order to fix the renting crisis.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation posted: “Reforming the private rented sector must be a priority for the next government. We need to hear from all parties on how they plan to give private renters the rights and protections they desperately need.”
alina.khan@ft.com
