“It will preserve the current balance of power that has created the renting crisis we face today. Frankly, it needs major surgery, and if it doesn’t get it more legislation will be urgently needed from the next government.
“Nevertheless, at least the Secretary of State admits that he will have to come to the table and work with opposition Peers to get this passed. We will work in good faith to try to strengthen bill, but he should be warned that renters will not accept the bill as written.”
Levelling up minister Jacob Young was unable to give a date for when the government will abolish no-fault evictions when quizzed by Labour MP Jeff Smith in the Commons debate.
Young said the government is investing £1.2m into improving the tribunal process and no-fault evictions would only be abolished for all tenancies after an assessment from the Ministry of Justice on court reforms.
“The bill brings in the most significant reforms to the sector in over 30 years,” said Young.
“The bill will abolish Section 21 and bring new decency standards giving England’s 11 million tenants more certainty of secure and healthy homes. It will mean tenants will be supported to hold down jobs in their local area, children to stay in the same school and households to put down roots in their communities.”
Labour has pledged to scrap no-fault evictions immediately if the party is voted into power but the opposition’s party’s bid to force it into the bill was voted down.
Shadow housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the bill is “not yet fit for purpose and must be strengthened to the benefit of renters”.
“With the government having promised private renters it would scrap Section 21 no-fault evictions over five years ago, we maintain that this legislation is shamefully overdue,” said Pennycook.
“Given that any further delay would cause yet more harm: both to private tenants who are in need of greater rights and protections and to responsible landlords who, above all else, require certainty. We believe, as imperfect as it is, it is essential that the bill completes its passage today.”
Levelling Up Committee chair Clive Betts said the government has had more than five years to prepare the courts for eviction process changes.
The Labour MP also said he had “no conviction that the courts will be any quicker in two or three years than they are now”. The committee previously recommended a dedicated housing court which has been repeatedly rejected by the government.
Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke said government amendments to the bill are a “betrayal of the 2019 Conservative manifesto” and accused ministers of “delaying tactics”.
Elphicke said: “This is a bill that the Conservative manifesto in 2019 promised would benefit tenants. Instead, this has become a bill where the balance has been too often in favour of landlords.”
Fellow Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall, one of the backbenchers opposing the bill that the government has reportedly been appeasing, voted against the bill.
One of Magnall’s amendments, backed by 58 fellow Tory MPs, for tenants to remain in tenancies for a minimum of six months only able to leave their property with two months’ notice, has been adopted by the government.
He said: “At no point do I think the government has dragged its feet, at no point do I think they have tried to block me.
“By the nature of putting in so many amendments, I am probably responsible for some of that hold up and for that I apologise.
“But, ultimately, this comes down to a belief of whether or not we are overreaching and I feel like this bill is overreaching.”
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “Our commitment to scrap section 21 no-fault evictions as soon as possible is unchanged.
“We have always said we will give six months notice before ending section 21 for all new tenancies. In addition, we have committed to ensuring improvements in the courts service are rapidly implemented before extending this abolition to all existing tenancies.”
Earlier in the day, Michael Gove admitted that no-fault evictions might not be banned by the general election.
The housing secretary had previously promised back in February that the Tories would deliver on its 2019 Conservative manifesto pledge by the time Brits head to the polls.
It’s now more than five years since then-prime minister Theresa May first said landlords would no longer be able to evict tenants without giving a reason.
But Gove said it is now up to peers in the House of Lords to ensure the bill passes scrutiny in time for the general election, which Rishi Sunak has hinted will be in the second half of the year.
Gove’s admission saw deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner accuse the government of “caving into vested interests” in failing to deliver on the ban.
That’s why saw pro-renter groups withdrew support for the bill on Wednesday and described it as a “failure”.
The Renters’ Reform Coalition called for significant changes to the bill following accusations that the government had “watered down” the bill to “appease landlords”.
The bill will now continue its journey into law in the House of Lords.
Big Issue founder and crossbench peer Lord John Bird said he will scrutinise the bill alongside peers. Lord Bird said: “I intend to do what I can to make the legislation deliver for the millions of renters that desperately need stronger protection.”
Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.
