The government has committed to introduce the Renters Reform Bill into Parliament during this session - despite the disarray over policies across the Truss administration.
At a Parliamentary session taking questions to the new Housing Secretary Simon Clarke - a close supporter of Liz Truss - there were several questions from backbench MPs pressing for a date for the introduction of the Bill.
Clarke resisted giving a date but said he was being clear that it would be introduced this session; he also repeated the commitment given by the Prime Minister last Wednesday that Section 21 eviction powers would be outlawed.
A government leak to The Times 10 days ago suggested that this ban may itself be scrapped, but Truss U-turned on it at the most recent Prime Minister’s Questions.
At his question time yesterday, Clarke made a number of unspecific commitments to reforming the rental sector in a bid to help tenants, including a “very close review” of Local Housing Allowance and how it can be more accurately reflecting market rents.
The Renters Reform Bill was first pledged by Theresa May's government in April 2019 and was described at the time as a “step change” in protections for renters, ending no-fault evictions and giving landlords and tenants more rights.
It was hailed as “the biggest change to the private rental sector for a generation” but has undergone several delays, mostly because of a lack of Parliamentary time.
It is widely believed that many provisions of the Bill would require up to two years of time to become law - suggesting it may be difficult for the current Conservative government to squeeze it in before the next scheduled election in late 2024.
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It was hailed as “the biggest change to the private rental sector for a generation”. Haha yes it will certainly be that.
Now tenants can hail 1) not finding anywhere to rent and 2)families being forced into expensive bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation and 3) the government can look forward to a massive increase on their £5m PER DAY for illegal immigrants they can’t get rid of for all the lower income non quadruple triple platinum non 5 star tenants. Then introduce tax rises to pay for it.
But at least they gave families more security. More security of knowing they won’t find a proper home again.
I just hope when I want to go on holiday down to Brighton, all of the hotels are not full anymore of homeless families and illegals.
😂😂 Not a hope, they cannot bring any of their policies in, this will be no different. … useless government.
The Renters Reform Bill certainly have had a devastating impact on Private Rented Sector already and they are only talking about it. Just wait until it’s introduced, so far thousands of landlords have left, reducing the supply making what is available far more expensive than it otherwise would have been, morons for sure so now wants to freeze rents because of the problems caused by the proposed Bill and removal of S.21 Congratulations.
The reduction in supply is only partly to blame for the increase in rental costs. S24, increased regulation and forthcoming EPC changes have all played their part.
After the chaos of the last couple of weeks, I dread to think what nonsense they will come up with next. Total inability to predict the catastrophic outcome of their policies. Problem is with the PRS it will take a while for the full impact to become apparent. Yes there are some landlords selling up now in anticipation, but for those who remain its going to be a very stressful time. And horrific for tenants.
Next will be a rise in capital gains tax to shaft the landlords that are selling.
I thought they increased SD to stop landlords buying, so why would they want to stop us selling? Other than both moves are just to raise tax revenue, and they don't actually care whether we buy or sell or anything else?
The way I look at it is that even if there were a greater amount of tax to pay, that would be better than having sitting tenants who would cause the property to be worth a fraction of what it is worth when it is empty. I am ready to cut my losses and get out. We have no representation and are just targets for persecution all the time.
sad landlord. I don't think the government wants to stop us selling, but they know we are going to anyway. Like death duties it is their last chance to make a few quid. They are going to make things so bad an increase in CGT won't put us off selling.
The problem with the current Government is that it has no ideology at all now. There is no rationality to their policies either. They are just hoping that they can minimise losses at the next election, but causing mass service of Section 21 notices because landlords are not on board with the rental reform agenda is not the way to win votes. There has been economic collapse and now that will be followed by a homelessness crisis- and a huge loss of tax revenue from landlords.
The policy should be to improve the lives of tenants not make them homeless! And the first thing to do is to stop listening to activists who seek a transfer of wealth, not a functioning private rental sector.
Sorry to say Christopher is probably spot on with that prediction. I've even pondered on selling my home (tax free main residence) and moving into one of my now empty lets but the way things are going I wouldn't be surprised if Jeremy Hunt doesn't soon impose a tax on sale of main residences as well.
Christopher, stop giving the government ideas. This government can't think ahead and forsee what their disasterous policies will make happen. We only have to look on at Loopy Liz and Crazy Quarteng having no thought their policies would spook the money markets and millions of people would be left paying so much more for their mortgages. Getting rid of Section 21 will make many LL sell up and reduce supply still further. Can Loopy Liz see this? Of course not. She only need look what is happening in Scotland where the number of tenancies vacant are right down, so high demand but low supply. This government needs to wake up and consider how they can increase rental house supply. Instead they do opposite and kill supply further. Pathetic, a primary school child would be more competent.
Liz truss spent her time as minister for woke government and photo opportunities. She is thick as two short planks, but hey everything is ok because her "friend" Cigar smoking and whisky swigging Coffey is deputy PM, so they can have a quick Tete a Tete! I wonder what the money markets hated most, borrowing money to give it to people to pay their energy bills, or putting up illegal immigrants in 4 star accomodation !
I am a landlord and I can only afford 3 star. Why am I paying for all these people to stay a the Holiday Inn????
Just have to factor future losses into rent charges. Work out a medium.
Does this mean that rents will have to increase again? Who would have thought that would have been a consequence of Shelter's et al campaigning?
Nick, watch GB news especially mark Steyn at 20 00
Will do Edwin.
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