It’s been revealed that the next stage of the Renters Rights Bill will be held on January 14.

This is the so-called Report Stage in the House of Commons.

At this point the Bill is debated on the floor of the House of Commons and gives MPs a chance to consider amendments to the legislation which were put forward in the committee stage in November. 

All MPs may speak and vote – for lengthy or complex Bills the debates may be spread over several days, but the Renters Rights Bill has been treated as an urgent priority by Labour, which is expected to push it through the Report Stage in a matter of just hours. 

The Report Stage is normally followed immediately by debate on the Bill’s Third Reading, at which point it will have concluded its passage through the Commons the amended draft legislation then moves to the House of Lords. 

Once the Bill reaches the House of Lords it goes through the same stages as it did in the Commons, although the detailed Committee Stage – when the legislation is examined line by line – is normally less exhaustive in the Lords. 

If the Lords disagree with the Commons they can amend the Bill and will then send it back to the Commons. 

The Commons will consider the amendments made and if they disagree the House of Lords will have to consider their position again and will usually agree to the Bill as returned to them from the House of Commons.

There has been generally widespread agreement between the Labour and Conservative MPs on most parts of the Renters Rights Bill, which is expected to become law in the spring.