The National Residential Landlords Association and the Generation Rent activist group both give evidence today to MPs as they begin a crucial study of the private rental sector.

NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle and Generation Rent director Baroness Alicia Kennedy are two witnesses giving evidence to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities select committee as it launches its enquiry into rental sector reforms and in particular the measures outlined in the government’s recent White Paper called A Fairer Private Rented Sector.

This select committee is cross-party and acts as a scrutinising force looking at the White Paper and other recommendations for the private rented sector.

The committee will scrutinise government plans to, among other things: introduce a decent homes standard for the private rented sector; reform the system of tenancies and abolish no-fault evictions; reform the grounds on which landlords can take possession of their properties; and better protect tenants from unfair rent increases. 

The inquiry is also likely to explore the government’s proposals to set up a new ombudsman covering all private landlords, to speed up the court process and to clamp down on landlords who refuse to let to benefit claimants, and the ability of local councils to enforce both existing standards and the proposed new measures.

This afternoon’s session – beginning at 4pm, some three hours after the announcement of who will become the new Prime Minister – will specifically examine plans for reform of evictions, tenancies and grounds for possession and also explore issues around proposals to “protect” tenants from rent increases.

Beadle and Kennedy will give evidence at 4pm, alongside representatives from the British Property Federation and the campaigning charity Shelter. 

At 5pm the committee will hear from a range of councillors representing different local authorities and housing groups.

Today’s session – the first for the committee – kicks off at 3.30pm and you can read the terms of reference here.