The House of Lords has narrowly voted for a low-key motion expressing regret that the current eviction ban measures do not offer more protection for private tenants.

Labour’s Lord Kennedy of Southwark (a shadow spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government in the Lords) and Baroness Grender (a Liberal Democrat) both tabled ‘regret’ amendments on the subject, where were discussed yesterday. 

These were so-called non-fatal amendments, meaning that agreement would not actually have any effect at all on the government or the legislation.

Lord Kennedy’s amendment expressed regret that the regulations lasted only until February 21. The Kennedy amendment was agreed very narrowly – 270 votes to 267.

Meanwhile Baroness Grender’s amendment regretted that the eviction ban was not automatically linked to the extension of other restrictions in place to address the Covid-19 pandemic, and that it did not take into account economic and financial factors that may have led to renters missing bill payments or reducing spending on food. 

Her amendment also called on the government to bring forward a support package to ensure private tenants were housed and landlords paid during the pandemic.

There was no vote on her amendment and Lord Wolfson of Tredegar, answering for the government, told the Lords: “I have to say that, with respect, the terms of the amendment do not meet the issue which faces the government.”