Speaking on the opening day of debate in the House of Lords, Baroness Scott, Vice President of the Local Government Association, led criticism of the Renters’ Rights Bill, warning that it fails to strike the right balance between tenant and landlord needs.

In its current form, she said, the legislation would just drive landlords from the market, reduce rental property supply, and ultimately increase rents.

If they didn’t believe her, she told the Government to examine the data, citing a Paragon mortgage lender survey showing 65% of landlords are more likely to reduce their portfolios due to the legislation, while 79%  would have to raise rents. She also referenced Savills’ data showing a 42% drop in rental home listings over 12 months.

This is not how we support renters, this is how we shrink their options.”

Scott told the Lords: “This is not how we support renters, this is how we shrink their options.”

The Conservative peer is therefore demanding greater scrutiny of three crucial areas: Section 8 notices, weakened court support, and the ending of fixed-term tenancies. While acknowledging the legislation’s aim to ensure safe and secure tenancies, she concluded: “This Bill falls short. It fails to meet its purpose. It fails to meet its promises.”

Impact assessed

Liberal Democrat Baroness Thornhill dismissed her concerns, saying, “The Bill is not intended to solve the shortage of rental homes and landlords have cried wolf before over the Tenant Fees Act.”

And Labour’s Baroness Taylor, Parliamentary Undersecretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, rejected her claims of a potential landlord exodus. She assured the House that the Regulatory Policy Committee had assessed the regulation’s impact and had given it the ‘green light.’