A national newspaper says the Renters Reform Bill is “on the brink of collapse” as Tory MPs are divided on their views of the measure.
The Sun quotes an unnamed Whitehall source as saying: “The Renters Reform Bill looks like it may now collapse and the Tories risk breaking their manifesto commitment to end no fault evictions. Officials are at a total loss given both pro-landlord groups like the National Residential Landlords Association and pro-renters groups like the Renters Reform Coalition want this bill passed ASAP. It seems a small group of landlord MPs, led by Anthony Mangnall, are holding the bill to ransom.”
However, Mangnall - MP for Totnes - is not a landlord himself. Additionally, he insists he supports scrapping Section 21 eviction rights. But he claims many Tories are furious about the Bill banning fixed-term rental tenancies and replacing them with periodic tenancies that don’t have an end date.
Mangnall is quoted in the Sun saying: “I want to amend the Bill not to kill it. It’s my role as a legislator to ensure we pass sensible legislation. We’ve had constructive meetings with Michael Gove. This is about trying to find the right balance.”
Generation Rent chief executive Ben Twomey - who has previously accused MPs who are landlords of blocking the Bill - took to social media platform X to say: “I’d call this a kick in there teeth for renters, but it’s far worse.”
And a statement from the Generation Rent organisation itself says: "If the Renters Reform Bill were to collapse as this report suggests, it would be the biggest betrayal of renters in a generation and nothing short of a disgrace. Ending Section 21 ... evictions has been promised for almost five years and the prospect that government might abandon its word to 12 million renters because of party infighting is shameful.
"The Bill intends to, in its own words, 'rebalance the power between tenants and landlords', but no compromise appears to be enough. Concessions to weaken and delay the Bill's impact have already been made. This Bill is more than fair to landlords and the major landlord organisations all support reform. With soaring homelessness and record evictions, opponents of this Bill are far removed from the realities of renting.
"The government must bring forward this Bill, and it must stand firm to make sure it is worth the paper it is written on. Renters are tired of being a football used for political point scoring. We deserve so much better than this, and will certainly remember if tenants’ rights are denied by the collapse of this Bill."
Meanwhile a Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson says: “Our landmark Renters (Reform) Bill will deliver a fairer private rented sector for both tenants and landlords. It will abolish section 21 evictions – giving people more security in their homes and empowering them to challenge poor practices. We continue to meet regularly with a range of groups, representing all those in the private rented sector."
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If only . . .
If it *never* becomes law IN ANY FORM and IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO IS IN POWER I.e. whether Torry, Labour or a.n.other that would be a great relief and a modest temporary reprieve for a probably still doomed sector.....
.....however I have a feeling that like some twist in a low budget horror movie it will suddenly reappear even bigger, nastier and more far-fetched than ever....... so don't hold your breath but instead breath for now while you still can!
My thoughts exactly!
Why are so many people missing, or perhaps ignoring the point on this. Landlords on the whole do support change, but being a landlord MUST be an attractive proposition both financially and logistically. How many people would place £300,000 in a savings account if the bank said "we will give you interest, but only on some months, we'd like to give you the interest every month for a year, but we might if we feel like it stop paying you interest after a couple of months, but we aren't sure, can we let you know as we go along, and if we do decide to pay you interest again, we will only do so after a months notice and also charge you a fee, that OK with you?" Would you put money in that bank account? That's effectively what the Bill is proposing to landlords in regards to removing fixed term tenancies. Who in their right mind would want to make any kind substantial investment without the security of a fixed term of return on that investment. It's no wonder that so many landlords are selling up. As an established Estate Agent, I can echo comments of so many others in that I am experiencing more landlords selling their portfolios than ever before. THIS is why rents are going through the roof, LACK OF SUPPLY as a result of year upon year of anti landlord legislation and taxation. The only solution is to increase supply, and that can't happen if investment and maintaining property portfolios becomes, too costly and financially risky, and too unattractive to landlords. Well meaning organisations like generation rent and shelter just don't seem to get it, or least don't want to show that they get it. Much needs to change in the PRS, but there is a true disaster for tenants on the horizon if this bill goes through in its current proposed form. Fewer properties to rent means higher rents, higher homelessness, and higher demand in social housing that is already woefully inadequate, it's a fact that can't be ignored.
No it's much worse than that (your analogy that is). It's if you want your money back it can only be for some set reasons which may have to be justified to a judge in Court otherwise tough!
They are NOT 'well meaning organisations'. They have agendas which are not to the benefit of the people they purport to represent.
What tenant or family wants to have a tenancy with no fixed term - none. The majority of tenants (familys especially) we get REQUEST 2 /3 year tenancies as they want security.
As has been said before , no sane landlord is serving good tenants notice!
I think people are finally realising that this element of the reform is a farce. I am all for the Renters Reform Bill but landlords need to stop being construed as the enemy and this Bill should be drafted and enacted sensibly without having the "tenant votes" at the forefront of every decision made around housing.
I agree having periodic, month by month tenancies is a ridiculous idea.
How about ban fixed rate mortgages, force everyone on standard variable rate mortgages. There would be uproar.
Tenants would prefer a 3 yr fixed term, with a fixed rent, …. or 5 yr fixed rent - giving security in their home, with affordable rent.
It’s a stupid idea. Scrap S21 fine. But why introduce other policies that no one wants?
My tenants like going onto peiodic since they usually start with a six or eight month contract with a new employer. Since they have no guarantee of employment they are happy for a six month tenancy to go periodic. I had tenants who signed an initial six month term and stayed for nearly seven years.
That might be the case, I have tenant that want a 2 month tenancy between houses. Equally, a family with a child in school wants security for 5 years, staying in catchment & having a family life.
I have a tenant that has moved 4 times in the past 3 yrs. it’s not fair, they want a long term home.
Hi James, I was surprised how many of my tenants do like to continue with periodic tendencies due to their circumstances, e.g. Job insecurity, short work contract, relationship issues, or they are unsure about what they want to do next. The notion that tenants want to stay forever is rare these days, unlike in the 1960s, where council tenants may have remained for 40 years.
That said, most landlords would be happy if tenants wanted three-year tenancies as it provides stability to both parties.
What is incorrect is Generation Rent, who sprung from nowhere, stating landlords are chucking tenants out of their properties for no reason. We know this to be untrue, as landlords want their property occupied by a tenant who pays the market rent.
I’d also add, I do holiday lettings / short lets as well as the thousands of long term tenants I’ve dealt with - as the rental reform bill makes it periodic, the short stay accommodation & long term will mix.
This means even less long term rental properties
This is nothing to do with improving the rental sector & all political. Improve Section 8 & scrap Section 21. Job done.
No need to over complicate, changing other things that don’t need to be changed.
Rather than just introduce the EPC, an EU requirement, they wrap this up with improving the home buying process with ‘Home Information Packs’, ignoring the professionals in the housing market & consequently fail. Don’t over complicate it, keep it simple.
If ever in this world there was something given the wrong name it’s no fault eviction. Even those being evicted know very well it’s NOT a no fault eviction!
Here here to pretty much all of the above.
you cannot YING without there being a YANG!
The government legislated that tenants cannot be charged costs for setting up a tenancy, where this probably saved them around £400 or so. Instead the Landlords compensated this by increasing rents by £100pcm. You do the math?
If they only capped what could be charged then agents would not have been able to charge astronomical rates to tenants and this would have never become an issue. Basically, these people making the decisions do not have a scooboo of an idea of how it works real world.
Don't be fooled by yet more lies, the fanatics want the final bill to be far worse the present RRB what we will get will make what is proposed now look like winning the lottery, this is just propaganda to trick landlords into delaying selling up
Get out now while you can, Europe needs housing and as hundreds of landlords know to their utter relief British landlords providing accommodation in Europe are treated the same as any other business none of the discrimination injustice and hate crime which is the daily reality for British landlords
This was always a political Chernobyl in the waiting for the Conservatives, hence they have dithered on it for a few years now. Thats what happens when you try and nick policies from the other side of the centre line, you risk alienating your own vote to steal the oppositions thunder which has been the achilles heel of Tory strategy for a while now. Just stick to being Conservative and have some conviction in what you actually believe in and let the electorate decide. This is simply the ACTUAL Conservatives in the party saying no to all the liberals that are trying to take over. Same going on in the Labour party with momentum, both parties are fighting to hold the centre centre ground and silence right and left but havent yet got the power to do so.
There is no private landlord wanting to evict good tenants !! At a time when there is a desperate shortage of properties to rent , and increasing high numbers of homeless people. This ongoing interference from the government will result in even less properties on the market to rent. Margaret Randall
I have been a landlord for over 30 years and have only used section 21 twice, and those were for good reasons. Personally I think the existing arrangement is fine, but minor tweaks may be a good idea. But I cannot imagine any landlord ousting a good tenant without a very good reason, and I think that premise is worth keeping. As a business, we have been hounded on all levels, and now that holiday lets are following the same route, it seems we will never get back to a reasonable settlement. It is obvious that having a mortgage on a let property is now a no-no, so the only route is to sell some properties and pay off the mortgages. What a shame.
How can there be a fixed-term tenancy without S21? Either S21 and fixed-term contracts remain permitted or S21 goes and they become open/rolling. As for a minimum term, this should be set at 90 days at least to ensure that the properties cannot be easily sub/holiday let.
I think the general consensus is that a Conservative-led RRB is likely to be more balanced than a Labour-led Renters initiative. As such, getting the RRB over the line pre-GE will likely be better for Landlords and Agents.
Changes are coming, that can’t be stopped- who do you want setting what those are?
I wonder what Generation Rant's reaction would be if the arguments were reversed?
Tenants could not just leave with a month's notice or
Tenants had to give TWO month's notice and a reason why.
That would then go before a judge to decide is it was a valid reason bfore releasing them from the contract.
Imagine the howls! We can only dream that GR have that nightmares for a change.
I think a lot of people are scared of change. But how bad was the tenant fees bill 2019 after so much scaremongering? We're all still here...
I cannot see how the sector will suddenly dissapear either, there will still be 12 mill tenants needing a home. Business owners will figure it out as with all the past legislation - have some faith in your abilities.
Many agencies do not renew tenancies on fixed term contracts and allow them to become periodic so I really do not see what the issue is there.
I totally get that it doesn't work for student lets, and there should be a concession there at least.
The one that is worring is abolishing S21s as clearly the system as it stands is not going to be able to cope with that, which could lead to serious issues for all involved. Maybe that's a tory trap being set for labour, such is their style to only think of themselves and not the lives they damage/ruin. The party for business even shafted business owners in their term. Why anyone would vote for that bunch of lying, self-interested scumbags again I really do not know.
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