Renters’ Rights Bill faces strong challenges in the Commons

Strong opposition to the Renters' Rights Bill exists in the Commons. Less than a month after the Bill's introduction, the Rt Hon. Angela Rayner MP presented it for its Second Reading on 9 October 2024, reaffirming the UK Government’s commitment to accelerating housing reform.. Throughout, MPs raised a number of important concerns, with Rayner rejecting the Bill's potential unintended consequences. These concerns included a reduction in the availability of rental properties, judicial deadlock, and the risk of rent inflation.

The UK Government does not believe that fixed-term tenancies benefit both landlords and tenants, according to the housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, MP. He stated that a switch to period tenancies will keep tenants from being trapped in contracts and allow them to adapt to changes in circumstances more freely. Propertymark has challenged the proposal to scrap fixed term tenancies and have called on the Minister to undertake an impact assessment.

Further information on the Renters right bill can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renters-reform-bill