The Renters’ Rights Bill passed its latest hurdle in Parliament as MPs gave it a third reading and passed it onto the Lords.

The Bill, introduced by Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook (main picture), will introduce a ban on Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.

Unjust PRS

He said it would tackle the “insecure and unjust PRS” and “clamp down on unscrupulous landlords”.

A series of Government amendments to change the Bill were passed, which included preventing landlords and letting agents from asking for more than one month’s rent in advance of a tenancy.

This proposal was addressed by a coalition of housing bodies in a letter to Pennycook, including NRLA, Propertymark, LRG and Goodlord, which warned that tenants with poor credit histories will be penalised.

Repayment orders

Other changes included allowing ‘superior landlords’ to be pursued for rent repayment orders (RROs) even if they have received no rent. This will overturn a Supreme Court ruling nearly two years ago that meant the ‘superior landlord’ was not liable for a RRO.

Several MPs spoke in favour of an amendment that will prevent guarantors from being pursued for rent when a tenant dies.

Rent controls

Pennycook ruled out rent controls, which was supported by some MPs, saying it “could harm both tenants as well as landlords” by reducing rented housing supply.

An amendment which would have introduced rent caps during tenancies was rejected by the Government.