BLOG: Will the Renters (Reform) Bill go live next year?

This time last year it had been expected that the Renters (Reform) Bill would be on the statute books by January 2024. But the government waited until May before introducing the Bill and hesitated further before October’s second reading and then coughing and spluttering its way through the committee stage at the beginning of December.

Now, like something of a Christmas tree, suitably adorned with glittering amendments, it will sit quietly in the corner and await its third reading at some point in 2024 before progressing to the House of Lords for similar treatment.

DROPPED, ADOPTED, SUSPENDED

And that means the multiple amendments by MPs and Peers – could be dropped, adopted or superseded when new ones are introduced.

Already, since the Bill was introduced, more than 140 pages of amendments have been published – most of them from the government itself – but 26 further changes have been proposed by Labour.

Michael Gove has already announced that the Bill’s most controversial measure, scrapping Section 21 evictions, will be paused until there are significant improvements to the court system. Although, we are still waiting to see details on those reforms from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

Some of the other significant changes include allowing student landlords to regain possession after the academic year (this only applies to HMOs but does not cover purpose-built student accommodation).

Another looks at adopting the Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector (PRS) – which already applies to social housing – with local authorities being given enforcement powers.

It’s also proposed housing authorities are given tougher investigative powers, including the powers to enter business premises without a warrant and requiring landlords and agents to provide information where there has been a possible breach of PRS regulations.

And a new clause allows the First-tier Tribunal to make an order against superior landlords, holding them liable for the behaviour of a rent-to-rent company meaning that they could be asked to pay back up to two years of rent.

Clearer rules against discrimination, making it illegal to discriminate against benefit claimants or tenants with children, are also on the cards.

renters

Time is running out to get this amended version of the Bill through both houses and on the statute books before the next general election, which is heavily speculated to be called in May 2024.

If the government can’t pass the Renters (Reform) Bill before the spring we already have an idea of what a Labour version will look like.

Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader and Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities & Local Government, has promised that Section 21 will be abolished on the first day of a Labour government.

We have also seen a number of rejected Labour amendments to the current Bill, which gives us more insight into their plans for the PRS should they form the next government.

These include outlawing bidding wars, a call for a clearer definition of anti-social behaviour and a push to mandate landlords to join a redress scheme. It is however unlikely that a backbench proposal to introduce a cap on annual rent increases to either the Consumer Price Index or wage growth in the local area will become an official Labour policy.

VOICE YOUR OPINION

So where does all this leave the legislation? MPs will have an opportunity in 2024 to suggest amendments to the renters Bill when it returns to the Commons for its third reading, so if you want to see changes now is the best opportunity to voice your opinion.

However, with time running out before the next election there is a risk that the Bill is rushed through without the changes it needs to provide a fair and transparent PRS that works for landlords, agents and tenants.

But perhaps the bigger challenge facing the industry is what happens if it doesn’t receive royal assent soon, as whoever wins the next election will want to revisit rental reform before too long.

Either way, PRS reform looks to be top of the political agenda for 2024.

Neil Cobbold (main picture) is Managing Director at PayProp UK