Labour frontbenchers and 20 charities accused Michael Gove of throwing tenants under the bus as the landmark Renters’ Reform Bill returns to the Commons this afternoon.
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The long-promised legislation was supposed to immediately ban hated “no-fault evictions”.
But after intense lobbying by landlord backbenchers, the ban will be effective after ministers have assessed the capacity of courts to deal with disputes – which could take years.
Housing charity Shelter today slammed the Bill as a “colossal failure that won’t protect tenants”.
Shadow Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook accused Mr Gove of “appeasing Tory landlords at the expense of private renters”.
Hitting back, Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young insisted the Bill “strikes the right balance”.
He told The Sun: “The changes that we’re making still meet the overall aims of abolishing no-fault evictions, giving tenants more security, helping them put down roots in their communities and allowing families to get their children into local schools.
“That’s what the ambition of this bill have always been and the changes that we’re making don’t affect that ambition.”
Mr Young added: “The Bill strikes a balance meaning that both tenants have that security and protection that they’re seeking and that landlords have the security and fairness that they need.”
Ahead of the votes, Mr Pennycook said: “Instead of ministers having the courage to face down their unruly backbenchers, this weak and divided Conservative government is appeasing them at the expense of private renters who will see the rights and protections they were promised watered down.
“The long overdue end of no-fault evictions cannot be made dependent on unspecified future court improvements subjectively determined by ministers.”
Alongside banning section 21 notices the Bill will outlaw fixed-term tenancies.
This frees up tenants to exit rental properties at any time with just two months’ notice.
Dozens of Tory MPs have signed an amendment trying to kill off the fixed-term ban, which has been hugely welcomed by renters’ rights campaigners.
Mr Young said the government is committed to the move and vowed not to cave to rebel landlords again on the amendment.