London (Parliament Politic Magazine) – Labour accuses Sunak of betraying renters amid potential dilution of long-awaited no-fault eviction ban bill; campaigners criticize the move.
Rishi Sunak has been blamed for betraying renters after it appeared the government is planning to water down long-awaited legislation restricting no-fault evictions. The Conservatives pledged to outlaw no-fault evictions, and a bill that would do this, the renters (reform) bill, was publicized in May last year.
However, the bill has still not cleared the Commons. It was delayed for months, carried over into the current session of parliament, and offered a second reading in November. The government has still not revealed when the final Commons debates will occur, although Michael Gove, the leveling-up secretary, has vowed it will become law before the election. Ministers have been pulling their feet because the bill is undesirable with a cohort of Tory MPs, and today, Harry Farley from the BBC is reporting that Gove is conferring with them on compromise amendments that he is offering to get the bill through parliament.
According to BBC, “The draft government amendments include putting it in law that the ban on no-fault evictions could not be implemented until the Justice Secretary published an assessment of its impact on the courts.
“It comes after MPs on the housing select committee last year warned that abolishing no-fault evictions would increase pressure on the courts because landlords will have to give a reason to remove a tenant, such as rent arrears or antisocial behavior…
“The government also promises to review the system by which councils can regulate landlords and enforce standards, known as selective licensing.
“In the documents circulated to potential rebel Tory MPs, the government promised to announce a review of the scheme “to reduce burdens on landlords.”
Among the other draft amendments the government is suggesting are requiring renters to live in a property for a minimum of four months before they can give the notice to end their tenancy and Allowing “hearsay” evidence in eviction claims for antisocial behavior.”
Moreover, Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader and shadow housing secretary, stated:
“This is yet another betrayal of renters by the Conservatives and yet another example of Rishi Sunak’s weakness, which means he always puts party before country.
Having broken the justice system, the Tories are now using their failure to break their promises to renters in the most underhand way. The government must go to Parliament today.
Fourteen years of Tory failure have failed renters. Labor will ban no-fault evictions, no ifs, no buts.”
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Campaigners have also criticized the move. Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, stated: “Weakening licensing schemes could compromise the safety of renters. These schemes give councils some of the most potent powers to tackle criminal landlords and sub-standard, dangerous homes. We have waited a long time for this Bill, but it must genuinely offer to improve renters’ lives if it is worth the paper it’s written on.”