A leaked letter from Jacob Young MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) has revealed major concessions to landlord groups and pro-landlord Conservative MPs, including abandoning the promise made by Michael Gove to have “outlawed” the practice of Section 21 evictions by the next election.
It also confirms the Bill will return to Parliament after Easter recess.
Section 21 or ‘no fault’ evictions were due to be abolished with the long-awaited Renters (Reform) Bill.
The legislation has been held up amid Government negotiations with a group of Conservative backbench MPs – many of whom are landlords themselves – who have tabled amendments which would strengthen landlord’s rights.
The letter, shared with the Renters’ Reform Coalition outlined a Government amendment to the Bill that would see no fault evictions only abolished for new tenancies, giving the Justice Secretary a block on implementing the legislation for existing tenancies until he has conducted a review of the courts.
Data from DLUHC’s English Housing Survey suggests a minority of renters – around 20% – move home every year.
Given the time required to pass the Bill, and a latest possible election date of 28 January 2025, the Renters’ Reform Coalition has estimated that the ban on-fault evictions would apply to a maximum of 10% of renters ahead of General Election – directly contradicting the Secretary of State’s commitment to have completely abolished the practice.
In a further concession to pro-landlord Conservative backbenchers, the letter said the Government will introduce a minimum period of six months for all renters to commit to when starting a tenancy.
The proposal has been labelled a ‘tenant trap’ by charities and renters’ groups who have warned it risks leaving tenants trapped in unsafe or unsuitable housing.
In addition, a commitment has been made to conduct a review of selective licensing to “reduce the burdens on landlords”.
Tom Darling, campaign manager at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: “So now we see the price the Government has paid in their Faustian bargain with the landlord lobby.
“Selling renters down the river with concessions that will put off the vast majority of renters from feeling the benefits of these reforms indefinitely, promising to reduce the burdens on landlords to meet licensing standards, and locking tenants in unsafe and unsuitable housing.
“The Government’s flagship legislation to help renters is fast becoming a Landlord’s Charter – watch as landlord groups today declare victory now having exacted a significant toll on this policy in exchange for their support.
“Renters will be hoping to see significant changes to the bill in the House of Lords; otherwise this legislation will hardly be an improvement on the status quo, and in some case it will make things worse. We will continue to fight until the very last to secure a Bill that delivers genuine change.”
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, added: “This is another missed opportunity for the government to strengthen the law to protect England’s 12 million private renters.”
“Instead of appeasing a few landlords, the government should focus on preventing homelessness.
“The best ways to do this would be to give renters four months notice rather than two when we are evicted, while making sure we can’t be kicked out within the first two years of a tenancy if we stick to the rules.”
