The Renters’ Rights Bill, a key piece of legislation affecting millions of tenants across the UK, is now expected to become law no earlier than this coming autumn. This delay has stirred concern among housing campaigners and tenants’ rights groups who were hopeful for quicker progress.
Confirmation of this delay comes directly from the House of Commons. Lucy Powell MP, the Leader of the House, has not scheduled any time for debate on the Bill before Parliament breaks for its summer recess. This means MPs will not have the opportunity to scrutinise or advance the Bill before they pause for the holidays.
The Commons is set to begin its summer break on Wednesday, leaving very limited time to deal with remaining legislative matters. With such a tight schedule, the Renters’ Rights Bill has been effectively pushed to the side – for now.
It has been reported that consideration of amendments to the Bill has been pencilled in for 8th September, just over a week after MPs return from their summer recess. This is when more formal discussions are expected to resume.
Although progress is paused in the Commons, the House of Lords is still expected to continue with its own proceedings on the matter. The Third Reading of the Bill in the Lords is scheduled for Monday of next week.
However, this Third Reading is anticipated to be more of a procedural step than a detailed debate. Most of the substantial discussions and scrutiny of amendments will be postponed until the Bill returns to the Commons in September.
Peers in the House of Lords have already proposed numerous amendments to the Bill. These range from changes in eviction notice periods to stricter rules on property standards, and all will require proper review once the legislation is back in the hands of MPs.
The government has expressed its intention to see the Bill through, but with the delays now confirmed, attention is turning to whether these repeated pauses could water down its final form. Some MPs and campaigners worry that without consistent parliamentary time, certain important protections could be compromised.
Lucy Powell has faced some criticism for not prioritising the Bill before the summer break. Critics argue that with rising rents and a growing number of people relying on the private rental sector, ensuring tenant protection should be a top priority for Parliament.
Despite this delay, there is still hope that the Bill will receive Royal Assent before Parliament’s next break. MPs are due to head off again on 16th September for party conference season, giving a small window for final approval of the legislation.
This tight timeline means that lawmakers will have just over a week in September to finish considering amendments and agree on the final draft. If successful, the Bill could become law before the end of that month.
If passed in time, the Bill could bring in a range of reforms, including a ban on no-fault evictions and improvements to tenancy conditions. These changes have been long awaited by renters and housing charities alike.
Still, there remains a risk that the political calendar could shift again, especially with other pressing national matters competing for attention. Any unexpected developments could delay the Bill further into the year.
For now, renters will need to wait a little longer to see these new rights enshrined in law. Advocacy groups continue to call for urgency and have urged MPs not to lose momentum once Parliament reconvenes.
In summary, while the Renters’ Rights Bill has made progress, it won’t become law until at least early autumn. With critical weeks ahead, all eyes will be on Parliament in September to see if the long-promised changes finally come into force.
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