Bill Progress

The Renters’ Rights Bill has cleared the committee stage in the House of Lords and now proceeds to report stage. The Bill includes:

• Immediate abolition of Section 21 (“no fault” evictions)

• A new single tenancy structure

• Ban on fixed-term contracts

The government has confirmed there will be no delay to implementation once passed into law, although the start date will be set by secondary legislation to allow time for practical preparations.

Warnings from Peers About Market Disruption

Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Conservative):

• Warned the Bill risks driving landlords out of the market and reducing housing supply

• Argued it “fails to strike a balance” between protecting tenants and maintaining a functioning private rented sector

• Cited a knowledge gap:

  57% of landlords don’t fully understand the Bill; 39% know little about it

• Urged a transition period to allow landlords, tenants, and agents to prepare

“If we get this wrong, renters will pay the price.”

Government: No Dither or Delay

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Labour):

• Rejected phased rollout:

  “The abolition of Section 21… will happen as quickly as possible”

• Confirmed all tenancies (new and existing) will transition on the same day

• Stressed that supporting guidance, court updates, and secondary legislation are already in development

• Pledged to give the sector “certainty” via an official implementation date

Clash Over the Role of Landlords and Tenants

Lord Bird (Crossbench, Big Issue founder):

• Claimed tenants have long enriched landlords while receiving little in return:

  “The role of the tenant has been to make sure that the landlord gets richer and richer.”

• Backed immediate abolition of Section 21 and full implementation without delay

Lord Hacking (Labour):

• Disputed Bird’s generalisations:

  “That is not true.”

Reality check:

• Median gross income for landlords: £25,000/year

• 41% of landlords earn less than £20,000

• Many landlords are small-scale investors, not highly profitable enterprises

Key Takeaways

• The government remains committed to swift, full implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill, with Section 21 to be abolished in one stage

• No formal transition period is planned, despite concerns from peers and evidence of low landlord awareness

• Debate in the Lords reflects a deep divide on how best to balance tenant protections with housing supply and market stability

• Landlord groups and letting agents will likely intensify calls for:

  • Greater education and support

  • Court reform and clarity on possession routes

  • Timeline flexibility for complex compliance