The Renters (Reform) Bill, which aims to end 'no fault' evictions, will have its second reading in Parliament this autumn, Housing Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed.
He made the announcement at a meeting of the Centre for Policy Studies' CAPX forum, a think tank that advocates for 'democratic capitalism'.
The Bill, which was first introduced in 2019, has faced opposition from some MPs and landlords who fear it will reduce their flexibility and rights.
However, Mr Gove said he was determined to proceed with the legislation, which he said would create a fairer and more balanced rental market.
It now looks like it will get its second reading after the King's Speech on 7 November.
'A thriving private rented sector'
At the forum, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), Ben Beadle, asked Mr Gove if he agreed whether a thriving private rented sector is important for the future of housing provision.
Mr Gove replied: "You can't have an effective housing market, or provision of the homes we need, without having a variety of different types of tenure.
"A route to homeownership, a private rented sector that facilitates labour mobility among other things, and socially rented homes in order to help people who are, for whatever reason, eligible for, and deserving of, that level of support."
And while he acknowledged the NRLA's efforts on PRS reform, Mr Gove said there was a need for a 'balanced market' that meets the needs of tenants and landlords.
Mr Beadle said: "The Housing Secretary is right to acknowledge the importance of a thriving rental market alongside all other tenures.
"But the only way to achieve this is to develop policies that can secure the confidence of the vast majority of responsible landlords."
Did not mention the Renters (Reform) Bill or the private rented sector
At the Conservative Party Conference, Mr Gove did not mention the Renters (Reform) Bill or the private rented sector when he gave his speech but did discuss housebuilding and protecting the green belt.
He pledged to deliver a million new homes, all of which would be energy efficient and carbon neutral.
Mr Gove also said he would prioritise building on brownfield land and rejected calls from Labour and the Liberal Democrats to encroach on the nation's green belt to build homes.
He said: "We need to ensure every family has a decent safe and warm home. We need to ensure young people can have a home of their own and we are on track to deliver a million new homes in this Parliament.
"Our long-term plan for housing will deliver attractive affordable new homes that we need."
Not mentioning the PRS or helping tenants
However, among the critics to take aim at Mr Gove for not mentioning the PRS or helping tenants, was Generation Rent.
The tenant activist group's policy and public affairs manager, Connor O'Shea, said on X (formerly Twitter): "Not a single mention of renters or the Renters' Reform Bill in Housing Secretary Michael Gove's speech at conference.
"More worries that the issue is not as high a priority as we have been assured."
Timothy Douglas, Propertymark's head of policy and campaigns, also waded in and said: "The Conservative Party's record in government means we are continuing to talk about building more homes that the country desperately needs.
"Reforming planning, new homes to net zero and more affordable places to live are vital but we need action now."
He added: "Furthermore, the party of home ownership also needs to be the party of renting which means a whole-scale review of taxes impacting landlords and investment in the private rented sector.
"Money to support regional development is welcome but the proportion of towns that will receive support is a drop in the ocean to what is needed."
'Since the Renters (Reform) Bill is so important'
Simon Thompson, the managing director of Accommodation for Students, said: "It's hard to believe that since the Renters (Reform) Bill is so important, that Mr Gove didn't mention it in his speech.
"All landlords, especially student landlords, now need to monitor the Bill's progress through Parliament."
He added: "We need to see whether the imposition of periodic tenancies on the student accommodation sector will actually happen, despite our protests.
"It cannot be right that the government sees the sense in not extending periodic tenancies to the purpose-built student accommodation sector but not to student landlords in the private sector."
