Tory Retreat on Renters Reform Bill Sparks Outrage as Election Looms

The Renters Reform Bill, which aimed to fulfill a 2019 campaign promise to eliminate no-fault evictions, has been set aside as the Conservative Party faces accusations of yielding to powerful interest groups. This decision comes just before the dissolution of parliament for the upcoming election.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Friday, May 24, 2024, 4:

Critics claim the Conservative Party has yielded to powerful groups by postponing a key piece of legislation intended to overhaul the rental market.

The Renters Reform Bill fulfilled a promise from the 2019 Conservative manifesto to eliminate section 21 "no-fault" evictions, which have significantly contributed to the increase in homelessness.

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The bill was initially pledged by Theresa May in April 2019 during her tenure as prime minister, and the promise was maintained by her successors, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.

The legislation has been put on hold as parliament is set to adjourn this Friday before the upcoming summer general election.

Labour charged the Conservatives with yielding to the pressures from pro-landlord Members of Parliament, who they described as having vested interests.

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Shadow housing secretary Matthew Pennycook commented, "By yielding to powerful groups and discarding their previously diluted Renters Reform Bill, the Conservatives have shattered the commitments they gave to private renters five years earlier.

Should the Conservative Party secure another term, tenants will continue to face escalating rents, substandard living conditions, and the threat of being evicted without cause.

"Labour aims to close the chapter on 14 years of Conservative turmoil, fulfill commitments where the Conservatives have not, and enact strong rental reform laws that will eliminate Section 21 no-fault evictions at once, ensuring fair treatment for both landlords and tenants."

"Yet Another Pledge Dropped by the

The Liberal Democrats characterized it as "yet another Tory commitment discarded and neglected."

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Today marks the final session for Members of Parliament prior to the upcoming election, with numerous pieces of legislation being expedited through parliament to be passed into law during the so-called "wash-up period."

A source from the Labour Party indicated that while they were in favor of amendments to the legislation, they were willing to endorse it as it stands to ensure its passage, noting that it was ultimately the government's choice to put the bill on hold.

When questioned on Friday about whether the government has let down tenants, a spokeswoman from Number 10 responded to journalists, saying, "No."

"The procedure allows for the passage of legislation when there is general agreement. However, the government's intent to have this specific bill approved was the reason for its initial introduction."

Learn More: Senior faces an archaic £17,000 ground rent charge while leasehold changes remain uncertain. Nearly a million tenants have been evicted without cause since the Conservatives pledged to eliminate such evictions.

The Renters Reform Bill was initially presented to the Commons in May of the previous year, hailed at that moment as a "once in a generation" chance to revamp the rights of renters.

The objective was to create a more equitable rental sector, however, its advancement through parliament encountered delays due to resistance from certain Conservative MPs who sought enhanced safeguards for landlords.

In March, the government's key pledge to eliminate no-fault evictions was indefinitely postponed due to necessary reforms in the judiciary, sparking criticism that the government had betrayed the interests of renters.

Housing advocates express frustration

Housing advocates have expressed outrage in response to the recent announcement.

Tom Darling from the Renters Reform Coalition commented that the current bill would "barely impact the rental crisis in England," expressing that individuals have been "severely disappointed." He noted that it would be up to the succeeding government to "repair the dysfunctional system."

Shelter's CEO Polly Neate expressed frustration, stating, "Tenants have long been vocal about the critical need for changes, yet politicians continue to disappoint them."

Debate over leasehold changes intensifies

A significant commitment to overhaul England's longstanding leasehold system, a key component of the housing initiative, is currently uncertain.

As discussions on the bill unfold today, there remains uncertainty about whether it will encompass the limitation on ground rents that was pledged in the 2019 manifesto.

There is also a possibility that the legislation may not be approved, as there are indications that Conservative members of the upper house who are against the amendments are exerting pressure on the government to abandon the proposal.

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