The Government has tabled 111 pages of amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill, a move criticised by renters network the Renters’ Reform Coalition for undermining scrutiny.
This followed just days after the Government sacked Housing Minister Rachel McClean in the recent reshuffle.
Tom Darling, campaign manager at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said the Government’s late notice was “an outrageous way to legislate.”
He added: “We have been expecting Government amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill for a while now as there are key parts of the legislation missing – but to publish them overnight with the important Committee Stage in full swing is not acceptable.
“These proposals should have been available to comment on and pore over for weeks – it’s ridiculous that politicians and experts will be expected to scrutinise over 100 pages of amendments, with some giving oral evidence as soon as tomorrow.
“It doesn’t help that this is happening the day after the housing minister was sacked, and it’s still unclear which Government minister is now actually responsible for this crucial Bill.”
He added: “To be clear, we do welcome the addition of missing parts of the Bill – we’ll now be working hard to see if they deliver the stronger protections and higher standards renters deserve.
“In the meantime, however, we urgently need to see some clarity from the Government about who has responsibility for this legislation and a clear timescale for implementing it.
“People’s homes and lives are on the line.”
The amendments proposed to the bill included moves to introduce the Decent Homes Standard to private sector housing, bans on landlords discriminating against renters with children or on benefits, and to set out powers for councils to enforce parts of the legislation.
