The Renters Reform Bill in its latest amended version now runs to 15 pages, and is available on the Parliament website.

The Bill has had detailed amendments made at the committee stage in the House of Commons. 

In the New Year – at a date still to be confirmed – it has its Report Stage. This allows all MPs (and not just those on the committee) to propose further changes. Once this part of the process has happened, it then has its Third Reading in the Commons, widely considered to be a formal and short process.

Then it goes to the House of Lords where the same multi-part process happens again, with a First and Second Reading, Committee Stage, Report Stage and then Third Reading before it finally goes for Royal Assent and becomes law: this could happen as soon as late spring 2024.

The National Residential Landlords Association has suggested that landlords use the Christmas break to lobby their MPs to make pro-landlord changes to the Bill while it is still in the Commons.  The NRLA describes the report stage as “one final, pivotal chance for MPs to shape its content.” 

The association says: “We have been engaging tirelessly with ministers, officials, parliamentarians, and industry stakeholders to secure the modifications we need. Many of you have also highlighted your concerns with your MPs, for which we are extremely thankful. But we need your help to urge MPs to seize their final opportunity to shape the Bill before it heads to the Lords.”

The two editable letter templates outline the key measures still needed in the legislation and the NRLA encourages landlords to use them to outline the issues to MPs. 

The latest version of the whole Bill, which runs to 155 pages now, is here.