Renters (Reform) Bill: Call for written evidence

Tuesday, 31 October 2023 10:27

The Renters (Reform) Bill Public Bill Committee today calls for evidence from those interested in and affected by the Bill. The Bill proposes changes to the law about rented homes, imposing obligations on landlords and others in relation to rented homes and temporary and supported accommodation. A Public Bill Committee has been appointed to scrutinise the Bill line by line, and would welcome written evidence submissions to aid this scrutiny. Oral evidence sessions are...Request free trial

The Renters (Reform) Bill Public Bill Committee today calls for evidence from those interested in and affected by the Bill.

The Bill proposes changes to the law about rented homes, imposing obligations on landlords and others in relation to rented homes and temporary and supported accommodation.

A Public Bill Committee has been appointed to scrutinise the Bill line by line, and would welcome written evidence submissions to aid this scrutiny.

Oral evidence sessions are expected to be held on Tuesday 14 and Thursday 16 November, and the Committee is scheduled to report by Tuesday 5 December. Interested parties are encouraged to submit evidence as soon as possible to ensure it is considered.

Aims of the Bill

The Bill would abolish assured shorthold tenancies and with them, section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. Instead, Private Rented Sector (PRS) tenancies will be monthly periodic assured tenancies with no end date. The Government has confirmed abolition will not happen until reforms to the justice system are in place.
The grounds on which landlords can seek to repossess properties would be amended and strengthened. The aim is to make it easier for landlords to repossess properties where tenants exhibit anti-social behaviour or repeatedly build up rent arrears.
A process would be introduced for implementing annual rent increases. First-Tier Tribunals would determine market rents if a tenant appeals against a landlord’s proposed increase.
A new independent Ombudsman would be established for the PRS.
A new PRS Property Portal would be established so tenants, landlords and local councils can access the information. One aim of the portal is to help local authorities target enforcement activity where it is most needed.
Landlords would be required to consider tenants’ requests to keep a pet. They would not be able to refuse such a request unreasonably. Landlords would be able to require pet insurance to cover related property damage.

Notes to editors

Follow the progress of the Renters (Reform) Bill

The Renters (Reform) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 17 May 2023. The debate on second reading was held on 23 October 2023.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published a series of guides to different parts of the Bill.
An Impact Assessment (IA) was submitted for review by the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). The RPC published its opinion on a revised version of the IA in July 2023. The Impact Assessment was published in July 2023 (PDF).
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee made a series of recommendations in its February 2023 report Reforming the Private Rented Sector. The response was published on 20 October 2023.

Guidance on submitting written evidence

The Public Bill Committee is now able to receive written evidence. The sooner you send in your submission, the more time the Committee will have to take it into consideration and possibly reflect it in an amendment. The order in which amendments are taken in Committee will be available in due course under Selection of Amendments on the Bill documents pages. Once the Committee has dealt with an amendment it will not revisit it.
The first sitting of the Public Bill Committee is expected to be on Tuesday 14 November and the Committee is scheduled to report by Tuesday 5 December. However, please note that when the Committee concludes its consideration of the Bill it is no longer able to receive written evidence and it can conclude earlier than the expected deadline of 5.00pm on Tuesday 5 December. You are strongly advised to submit your written evidence as soon as possible.
Your submission should be emailed to scrutiny@parliament.uk
Further guidance on submitting written evidence can be found here.

As the Public Bill Committee was appointed with a ‘carry over’ motion before the House of Commons was prorogued, the Committee’s work can continue into the next Parliamentary session, which begins with the State Opening of Parliament on Tuesday 7 November.