Renters Reform Bill: government reveals another Commons delay
The Renters Reform Bill will not go for its Third Reading in the House of Commons for at least another fortnight.
The Bill - which some claim has been slowed down in its progress in the House of Commons because of its unpopularity with many Tories - completed its Committee Stage on December 6 but has not yet been scheduled for its next stage, the Third Reading.
And just before the weekend the Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, told fellow MPs that debates this week would include those about the Finance Bill, local government funding, HIV testing, the management culture of the Post Office, and a subject still to be decided by the opposition Labour benches.
However, there was no reference to the Renters Reform Bill and - with the House of Commons adjourning on Thursday evening this week until February 19 - that means at least a further two weeks with progress on the measure.
The Renters Reform Coalition - a group of tenant activist groups including the controversial Acorn organisation - has already protested some 10 days ago at what it sees as the unnecessary delay. On social media it said: “Once again, still no sign of the Renters Reform Bill as @commonsleader @pennymordauntonce announces the order of business for the coming weeks. Homelessness is at record levels, yet the Government is progressing legislation that could help address this at snail's pace.”
Controversy continues to surround the proposed legislation.
Most recently the letting agents’ trade body Propertymark gave the views and worries of a poll of some 650 letting agents. This reported that:
- 73 per cent of agents think that the Bill is fundamentally unfair;
- Over 60 per cent believe the removal of fixed term tenancies will impact tenants negatively;
- 70 per cent agree that student lets should be exempt from the removal of fixed-term tenancies;
- Only around half (54 per cent) believe the government’s new PRS Database will improve PRS standards;
- And 90 per cent agree the following possession grounds should be made mandatory: breach of contract; repeated late payment of rent; securing a let on the basis of false information.
