Government Has Scaled Back The Renters' Reform Bill

Ministers appear to have delayed their own plans to ban no-fault evictions, as the landmark Renters' Reform Bill has been watered down.

The pledge to abolish Section 21 no-fault evictions is a cornerstone of Michael Gove's landmark legislation to reform the private rental sector, but has been met with fierce backlash from some Conservative backbenchers and landlords.

A letter from levelling up minister Jacob Young sent to Tory MPs on Thursday, first reported byThe Sun, lays out a series of amendments that the government will bring forward to the legislation when parliament returns from Easter recess in April. 

Among them is a plan for there to be an assessment on “readiness of the courts” before section 21 will be abolished for existing tenancies. It is believed that serious court backlogs could hold up landlords wishing to evict troublesome tenants. 

The Bill in its current form allows for tenants to end a tenancy with two-months notice at any point, however a new amendment will mean that this cannot happen within the first six months of a tenancy. 

In the letter, Young wrote that he knows some MPs and constituents have been “concerned about aspects” of the reforms. He said that is why changes have been made to “bolster landlord protections”. 

"Tenant and landlord groups have a common desire to see us deliver this bill as quickly as possible to end uncertainty for the sector – which is why I am pleased to confirm the Bill will be returning to the Commons after Easter recess," he continued. 

In February, PoliticsHome reported on draft amendments that could have seen tenants effectively locked into contracts for six months. PoliticsHome reported earlier on Thursday that ministers met with lobbyists for landlords and estate