A coalition of over 20 groups, previously supportive of the Renters Reform Bill, has shifted its stance. Despite expressing enthusiasm about the Bill on April 15, recent developments reveal a change of heart. This comes as the government sought amendments to enhance fairness, signaling a reevaluation of the Bill’s impact and implications by tenant advocacy groups.
On April 15, the Coalition stated on its website that the government’s move to introduce legislation aimed at regulating the private sector, with the aim of enhancing tenants’ rights, was a significant step forward. This achievement was attributed to strong public support for reform and persistent advocacy efforts from the renters’ movement. Despite initial optimism, recent developments have seen a complete reversal in the Coalition’s position.
Now, the Coalition voices concerns that their input has not been adequately acknowledged. They highlight disparities in ministerial engagement, noting that lobbyists for landlords and estate agents have received twice as many meetings with ministers compared to groups representing renters. This shift underscores the Coalition’s dissatisfaction with the government’s responsiveness to the needs and perspectives of private tenants.
The bill, once hailed as a beacon of hope for renters, has faced repeated dilution at the hands of the government, yielding to the demands of backbench MPs. Each round of concessions has chipped away at its potency, leaving it a shadow of its former self. Despite initial enthusiasm, recent amendments proposed by the government mark the culmination of this erosion process, prompting a drastic shift in sentiment among tenant advocacy groups.
Disillusionment now permeates the Renters Reform Coalition, whose members feel their concerns have been brushed aside by policymakers. Rather than meaningful engagement, the government’s actions reflect a pattern of disregard for the voices of those most affected by housing policies. The palpable frustration stems from a perceived imbalance in dialogue, with landlord and estate agent lobbyists enjoying disproportionate access to decision-makers compared to renter representatives.
The consequences of this legislative backtracking are dire. What was once envisioned as a comprehensive overhaul of rental regulations now appears as a mere façade of progress. The bill’s purported aim to abolish section 21 eviction notices rings hollow, as doubts linger over its effectiveness. Moreover, the proposed alternative tenancy framework fails to inspire confidence, offering little in terms of substantive improvement for tenants. In essence, while the government claims to address the rental crisis, its actions perpetuate the very power differentials that underpin the precarious state of renting in England.
The Coalition, comprising various organizations such as the London Renters Union, the Greater Manchester Renters Union, and the National Union of Students, outlines specific conditions for forthcoming reforms to garner its backing.
These are (in the Coalition’s words):Â
- Roll back the concessions made to the Bill for backbench MPs, which have led to the indefinite delay of the end of section 21, thereby ensnaring tenants into tenancies for six months. Also, conduct a review of selective licensing to alleviate the burden on landlords.
- Extend the notice period for evictions to four months for tenants, as opposed to the current proposal of two months, which mirrors the status quo for section 21 evictions.
- Safeguard renters from eviction under the new landlord circumstances grounds for the initial two years of a tenancy, rather than the proposed six months, which offers no enhancement over the current situation.
- Establish robust measures to prevent unscrupulous landlords from exploiting the new grounds for eviction, which could potentially be utilized similarly to section 21 notices.
- Grant courts the utmost discretion to determine whether there are valid reasons why an eviction should not proceed.
- Restrict in-tenancy rent hikes to the lower of either inflation or wage growth, thereby preventing unaffordable rent increases that could lead to ‘economic’ evictions without fault.
