Peers in the House of Lords have put forward
amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill
, aiming to refine protections for tenants while ensuring landlords can
maintain their business.
Among them is one which should appeal to student landlords and that’s a
proposal to keep fixed-term tenancies when both the landlord and tenant
consent.
The amendment from Baroness Bybrook is specifically targeted at maintaining
fixed-term arrangements for private student accommodation.
She argues this adjustment delivers the stability craved by both students
renting homes and landlords providing them with the ‘certainty that both
student tenants and student landlords need.’
Keep student lets practical
The national lettings managing director at Leaders Romans Group (LRG),
Allison Thompson, welcomed Baroness Bybrook’s proposal and said: “The
amendments proposed in the House of Lords mark a significant and positive
step forward for the Renters’ Rights Bill.
“After much industry concern and sustained lobbying – particularly from our
partners at the NRLA – this is fantastic news.”
She also highlighted benefits such as linking rent hikes to inflation,
keeping student lets practical and postponing the abolition of Section 21
evictions until the court backlog has been cleared.
Abolish Section 21 ‘immediately’
However, Lord John Bird, the founder of the Big Issue, is pressing the
Labour government to abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions immediately
upon the Bill’s enactment.
He has introduced four amendments to quicken the legislation’s enforcement.
Lord Bird said: “Section 21 no-fault eviction undermines tenants,
regardless of whether the landlord has any intention of using them.”
He wrote in the Big Issue: “Renters have waited too long for Westminster to
come good on the promises of successive governments to end no-fault
evictions.
“The Renters’ Rights Bill must be passed and implemented by the summer, as
the government have promised.”
Despite this claim, data from the 2021-2022 English Housing Survey reveals
that 77% of private renters left their last home voluntarily and were not
evicted.
Surprise for student landlords
Another surprising turn for student landlords was for Labour to declare
that it doesn’t support rent controls.
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, the Minister for Housing and Local
Government, said: “The Labour government have been clear, we do not support
rent controls.
“Heavy-handed rent controls tend to mean higher rents at the start of a
tenancy, and they can make it much harder for prospective tenants to find a
home.”
She warned that rent controls could reduce housing investment and quality –
while boosting illegal sub-letting practices.
Dwindling landlord numbers
Despite government assurances, an official impact assessment acknowledges
that tightened regulations under the Bill might prompt some landlords to
exit the private rented sector (PRS).
Lord Jamieson, a Conservative peer, warned of dwindling landlord numbers
driving up costs due to supply shortages.
Baroness Taylor refuted this, insisting: “We have carefully assessed what
the impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill might be, and we do not believe that
it will have a significant impact on the supply of private rented housing
in the market.”
She emphasised consistent supply trends and the Bill’s intent to help both
tenants and landlords.
Again, the latest English Private Landlord Survey paints a different
picture, with 31% of landlords planning to scale back their portfolios in
the next two years, up from 22% in 2021.
Other amendments to the Bill include Baroness Scott of Bybrook’s bid to
permit landlords with fewer than five properties to retain Section 21
rights.
Fixed-term tenancies for student lets
The managing director of Accommodation for Students, Simon Thompson, said:
“The House of Lords’ efforts to preserve fixed-term tenancies for student
lets, alongside debates over Section 21 evictions, are to be welcomed.
“It shows that there are MPS and Peers who do understand what the impact of
periodic tenancies will be on the student accommodation sector.”
He added: “While Labour resists rent controls and downplays fears of a
landlord exodus, the reality is very different – as shown by a 31% rise in
landlords planning to downsize – and this suggests challenges ahead.
“Without fixing the court backlog, the abolition of Section 21 will just
create a chaotic legal logjam.”
The amendments being proposed by the House of Lords at the
Committee stage are
here
.
