Tories and landlords consider how to thwart the Renters' Rights Bill

Senior members of the Conservative Party have engaged in confidential talks with leading landlords in a bid to thwart the controversial Renters' Rights Bill, the Guardian has revealed.

The meeting, chaired by shadow housing minister Baroness Jane Scott, examined strategies such as starting court battles under human rights laws.

Those present also talked about using House of Lords amendments to stall the Bill’s progress. During the roundtable, which included major players like Get Living and the National Residential Landlord Association , participants brainstormed ways to either derail or postpone the bill indefinitely.

However, the revelations have ignited claims of improper coordination between the property sector and Conservatives.

That's despite the Conservatives' efforts to bring in the Renters (Reform) Bill while in power.

Bill will hit rental supply

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party said: "The Conservatives have been warning that this bill is deeply flawed, as it will lead to a reduced supply of rental homes.

"As is standard practice with all legislation, the official opposition engages privately with a range of stakeholders to hear their views."

Michael Gove, when he was the housing secretary in the last government, pushed for similar reforms, but his efforts were abandoned when the election was called.

Since then, Tory party leader Kimi Badenoch has stiffened her party's resistance to the Bill's aims for the private rented sector.

Section 21 abolished

Central to Labour's proposed legislation is the ending of Section 21 'no-fault' evictions, which could be implemented when the Bill gains Royal Assent.

The law also aims to stop landlords from charging excess rent and will enforce 'Awaab's law', which mandates that landlords carry out timely essential repairs.

The Guardian says that during discussions, Get Living revealed it had explored the opportunity of a human rights challenge with a top barrister, a move Baroness Scott reportedly endorsed.

One attendee said she believed that the legal action could halt the legislation.

However, there was a reference to the Scottish Association of Landlords' unsuccessfully challenging the Scottish rent cap pointing to property rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.

A Get Living spokesperson insisted their goal was for the bill to succeed, adding: "There is a group in the professionally managed rental sector that significantly contributes to new housing stock that are concerned about the legal issues the government faces if the bill proceeds in its current format."

Bid to delay the Bill

Baroness Scott also pledged to push for extensive debates on amendments to delay the Bill's process through the Lords - suggesting she could postpone proceedings until at least the autumn.

She apparently expressed frustration at the lack of statistical proof that landlords were exiting the market due to the Bill, prompting attendees to help in gathering such data.

Defending the Tories' reluctance to adopt Awaab's law, Baroness Scott argued that landlords lacked the organisation to meet strict repair timelines.

One attendee suggested that landlords should be compelled to improve their systems to meet the law.

RRB is 'inevitable'

However, not all the attendees were happy with the meeting's direction, with some saying the Bill’s implementation was 'inevitable'.

They also pushed for its quick passage into law with minor tweaks to bring clarity for landlords.

The policy officer at campaign group Acorn, Anny Cullum, told the Guardian: "The comments by Baroness Scott have confirmed what we suspected: that there is a coordinated attempt by landlords and their supporters within the Lords to frustrate the progress of the Renters' Rights Bill.

"Unelected and unaccountable Tory peers are using underhand tactics to deliberately delay this vital legislation even more – legislation that many of them supported in its previous guise under the last government."

Impact on student landlords

Simon Thompson, the managing director of Accommodation for Students, said: "It's not a sign of plotting if senior Tories are collaborating with major property figures about the Renters' Rights Bill.

"It's important that politicians understand what the Bill's impact will be on the PRS - especially the student accommodation sector.

"That is good practice and, hopefully, Baroness Scott learned a lot about what private landlords are facing."

He added: "There will be lots of student landlords looking the Bill's progress with dread - this law will undoubtedly reshape the landscape of PRS."

Landlords need six months

Meanwhile, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has urged ministers to clarify when the measures in the Renters' Rights Bill will take effect.

It warns that the government's summer deadline now appears unattainable with the Bill's scrutiny in the House of Lords delayed until after Easter.

Ben Beadle, the chief executive of the NRLA, said: "Given the extent of the changes, at least six months will be needed to ensure a smooth transition to the new tenancy system.

"Anything less will be a recipe for confusion and chaos."