Tenant groups have voiced concerns that a group of peers with ties to the property sector are trying to delay the Renters’ Rights Bill and get concessions from the Government.
Jane Scott, a shadow housing minister and Tory peer, recently hosted private talks with big landlords about how to thwart the bill, which will ban no-fault evictions, according to The i Paper.
She told the private roundtable she would do everything she could to force debate on multiple amendments as a way of delaying the bill, saying she thought she could hold it up until the autumn at least. A potential legal challenge was also discussed.
Lord Strasburger, Lord Carrington and Lord Jamieson, who are all landlords, have proposed amendments that would allow for fixed-term tenancies to continue.
The Earl of Kinnoull, a Conservative peer who receives rent from cottages, has proposed reductions to fines for landlords who fail to join the PRS database or provide fraudulent information, while another of his amendments would make it harder for landlords to be fined for discrimination.
Nearly one in five (162) sitting peers are landlords, and more than 100 have financial interests in property, lettings and real estate, according to research by the Renters’ Reform Coalition.
Director Tom Darling says the idea that unelected peers, many of whom are deeply tied to existing property interests, could delay or water down the vital reforms is appalling.
“Millions of renters are counting on the government to fix our broken renting system,” he adds.
However, property lawyer at JMW, David Smith, believes the Lords’ amendments are “going nowhere” as while some will be passed, they will not be relevant as almost all will be knocked back out later by the Commons.
The Lords’ Committee Stage is set for next Tuesday - April 22 - when the amendments will be debated, and Royal Assent is expected in June or July.
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