With the Renters (Reform) Bill on the scrapheap, what’s next for landlords.....
The Renters Reform Bill has been scrapped, and did not make it onto the statute book before parliament was dissolved on 30 May, ahead of the General Election on 4 July.
The Renters Reform Bill has been scrapped, and did not make it onto the statute book before parliament was dissolved on 30 May, ahead of the General Election on 4 July.
This is because the Bill was not included in the list for “wash-up”, the last few days of a Parliament when the Government sought to rush through legislation still in progress ahead of the election.
As the Renters Reform Bill did not get over the line, a new government would need to start from scratch if they wish to reform the private rented sector, including the abolition of Section 21.
What happened with the Renters Reform Bill?
The Renters Reform Bill was dropped after the General Election was called, and will not now proceed to the statute book.
The Bill was still part way through the House of Lords when the General Election was announced on 22 May, after having been delayed in the House of Commons by ructions within the Conservative Party. Unlike the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, it was abandoned by the government, and didn’t make it onto the list of Bills that could be fast-tracked in the “wash up” period before parliament was prorogued and then dissolved.
It is now uncertain whether the Conservatives would pursue rental reform should they win the election, not leased because Michael Gove, who championed the Bill, has announced that he won’t be standing as a candidate at the election.
>> Related Post: What do the main political parties say about rental reform?
Timeline for the Renters Reform Bill
17 May 2023
First Reading
The name of the Bill was read out in the House of Commons
23 October 2023
Second Reading Debate
This was the first big (and much delayed) step in the Bill’s journey through parliament, when the RRB was debated for the first time.
Michael Gove opened the debate and set out the case for the RRB, explaining its provisions. The opposition responded and other members were free to discuss it.
Finally, a motion was carried without a vote for the Bill proceed to the Committee Stage.
Completed 28 November 2023
Committee Stage
The Committee heard oral evidence from a wide selection of witnesses from the private rented sector (including the NRLA, Shelter, lawyers, academics, and Trading Standards), before progressing to its line-by-line analysis of the original text and amendments tabled by the government and opposition.
The Committee Stage ended on 28 November 2023, and the Bill was formally reported to the House of Commons for the Report Stage.
24 April 2024
Report Stage and Third Reading
At the Report Stage, MPs passed on a significant number of amendments and new clauses to the Renters Reform Bill.
The Third Reading debate immediately followed, and it cleared the House of Commons.
From 1 May 2024
House of Lords
The whole process started again in the House of Lords, with the First Reading on 1 May. The Second Reading took place on 15 May.
The Bill fell in its entirety when parliament was prorogued on 24 May.
This will not happen
Royal Assent
The Renters Reform Bill failed to get Royal Assent as it was abandoned before parliament was prorogued and then dissolved in the run up to the general election.
4 July 2024
General Election
The next General Election will take place on 4 July 2024
This will not happen
Main Commencement Date: New tenancies and other reforms
At least six months after Royal Assent for the following:
* Implementation of Chapter 1 of Part 1 (abolition of Section 21, new s8 grounds, no fixed terms, implied right to have pets etc) for new tenancies*
* Landlord Redress Scheme
* Prohibition of discrimination against tenants with families or tenants on benefits
* PRS Database
* Decent Home Standard
* Changes to Rent Repayment Orders
This will not happen
Extended Application Date: Existing tenancies
The following provisions are in Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Bill and will not come into effect for existing tenancies until the Extended Application Date:
* Abolition of Section 21
* New grounds for possession under Section 8
* Abolition of Assured Shorthold Tenancies and replacement with periodic Assured Tenancies
* Changes to the way landlords increase rent increase
* Implied right to keep a pet
* New tenancies are those which are entered into or which move from fixed term to periodic after the Commencement Date.
Periodic tenancies in place on the Commencement Date will stay under the old rules until the Extended Application Date.
