A new amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill would allow landlords to reclaim their properties if they have served notice before the Bill’s enactment but have to pursue a court order after it is implemented.

It means that where a landlord has served a Section 8 or Section 21 notice before the Renters' Rights Bill comes into force, they will have three months from commencement to make a claim for possession.

Without this change, landlords would need a court to issue a possession claim within three months to be certain they could gain possession.

Given current court delays, this may have invalidated the claims of landlords, including those who acted promptly to regain possession, experts have warned.

Renters' Rights Bill amendments

The amendment has been put forward by Baroness Taylor and has been welcomed by the NRLA.

James Wood, of the NRLA, said: “The NRLA raised this issue a number of times with the Government - so we are pleased Baroness Taylor, who put forward the amendment, has listened to us - and that the latest amendment fix this, with the new Government amendment makes it clear that landlords can use a valid Section 21 or Section 8 notice to apply to court at any time during the transition window.  

“While hundreds of amendments have already been proposed, that fact that this adjustment has been put forward by Baroness Taylor, the Housing Minister in the Lords, means it will almost certainly be included in the final version of the Bill.”

The Renters Rights Bill will be back in the Lords on April 22, when peers will be given the chance to propose amendments and provide detailed feedback.

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