The Renters’ Rights Bill has finally cleared the House of Lords and taken one step closer to making it into law. Peers passed the long-awaited legislation following a third reading on Monday (21 July). Labour had been targeting the Renters’ Rights Bill coming into force this summer to deliver on a manifesto promise to abolish no-fault evictions immediately.
Rent campaigners warned a number of amendments at the previous report stage threatened to “significantly undermine” the bill.
Changes to the bill included new possession grounds allowing landlords to evict tenants to house carers or agricultural workers and requiring a very high standard of proof for a landlord to be fined for discrimination or conducting bidding wars.
Further changes included halving the amount of time a property cannot be re-let after landlords evicted a tenant to sell up. Campaigners argued this could make it easier for landlords to exploit this eviction ground to kick tenants out with no intention to sell.
The Renters Reform Coalition accused a number of peers behind the amendments of acting to preserve the interests of landlords.
