The private rental sector (PRS) has been given no clear timetable for the introduction of the proposed Renters Reform Bill.
During a debate in the House of Commons on Thursday, November 3, Felicity Buchan MP, under-secretary of state at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities only said there would be progress on the Bill “in due course”.
MPs on both sides of the House expressed frustration and disappointment at the delays to the legislation, which had been pledged three years ago in the Conservative Party manifesto for the general election in 2019.
In a statement in the House, Buchan said the government was still committed to the abolition of Section 21, whilst seeking to support responsible landlords. She added she wanted to make the system fair for both landlords and tenants, recognising the vast majority of landlords “treat their tenants fairly and provide safe homes”.
She added “everyone in our society deserves to live somewhere decent, warm, safe and secure and we are determined to make that vision a reality” and the government was “determined to deliver a new deal for tenants and landlords in the private rented sector”.
In response, shadow housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook, MP said: “We do want to see all 12 of the proposals set out in the white paper translated into primary legislation as a matter of utmost urgency.”
“All we have, despite years of promises from successive Conservative administrations that they would enact renters reform, is the white paper and a vague promise… to introduce a bill at some point during the more than two years that remain at this parliament.”
Sheldon Bosley Knight’s business development manager Nik Kyriacou said: “We have said all along landlords need clarity. They need to know what is expected of them and to be treated fairly.
“The White Paper raises important issues and the sector does need to tackle the small minority rogue element.
“However, the vast majority of landlords are committed to doing the right thing by their tenants and it is unfair to keep everyone waiting and for there to be further delays to the legislation.”