Government STILL can’t say when renting reform Bill will be published
Under-Secretary says legislation to reform renting will be brought forward 'in due course' following cross-party criticism of delays.
The Government has failed to confirm when it will press ahead with reform of PRS.
Felicity Buchan, DLUHC minister, (main picture) told MPs in a debate on PRS in Parliament that the proposals will be published “in due course”.
“The Government is determined to deliver a new deal for tenants in the private rented sector,” she said.
She confirmed that the Government was still committed to removing Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’.
Uncertainty
Lloyd Russell-Moyle, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Renters (pictured), told MPs there was uncertainty about whether Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’ and other measures in the white paper were going ahead.
“We still don’t know when and it is not good enough. The never, never has been promised,” Russell-Moyle added.
“The Government must act and it must act now.”
Matthew Pennycock, the shadow housing minister, said Labour supports reform of the PRS, including the abolition of Section 21 evictions, as the system was “broken”.
He said there was need for urgent reform to deal with the “desperate” situation for many renters, as the Government was taking too long to take action.
“The Government must act and it must act now,” he said.
Housing secretary Michael Gove recently confirmed PRS reforms were going ahead. He launched the Renters Reform White Paper in June.
Gove also suggested renters will be among the groups targeted for extra support in the Autumn Statement on 17 November. He said this help could be through Universal Credit benefit payments, tax cuts or via direct support.
