The government is expected to give at least some details today of the principles enshrined in a new White Paper on rental reform.

The latest Queen’s Speech back in May included a broad pledge for rental reform, starting with a White Paper expected to be delivered in the autumn.

This follows a more specific pledge, delivered by the government over two years ago, to scrap Section 21 eviction powers currently with landlords, while beefing up Section 8 powers.  

Today a meeting at the Conservative party conference in Manchester is expected to hear about progress on both the content and timing of the White Paper.

The meeting is being led by Eddie Hughes, minister for rough sleeping and housing at the newly-renamed Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. 

Also on the platform will be Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter – and a long-time campaigner for the reduction in landlords’ rights – plus Conservative MP Lia Nici and Tamara Sandoul, policy and campaigns manager at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

The event is entitled: ’Rent Back Better: What does the Renters Reform Bill mean for the future of private renting?’ and is at 1015 this morning. 

The Tories have described the event this way: “Stable and secure housing has always been essential. But it is out of reach for many, a fact only exacerbated by the pandemic. How can we use this moment to deliver lasting change to the private rented sector, working with renters and landlords? This event will discuss the future of renting in the context of the return of the Renters’ Reform Bill.”

You can see the event live via YouTube here; you may have to register first.