Renting reforms: Ministers discuss watering down no-fault eviction proposals

Ministers are consulting backbench Tory MPs on watering down planned protections for renters in England.

The BBC has seen a series of draft government amendments to a forthcoming bill which aims to ban landlords from evicting tenants without a reason.

The proposed changes were circulated with Tory MPs who had expressed concerns about the bill and wanted to increase rights for landlords.

The government insisted it would still ban no-fault evictions by the election.

The Renters (Reform) Bill was first introduced last May. It would mean that landlords could evict tenants in England only under certain circumstances, including when they wish to sell the property or when they or a close family member want to move in.

But the bill has still not passed through the House of Commons.

• Surge in no-fault evictions by bailiffs

• What are your rights when you're renting?

About 50 Conservative MPs, some of whom are landlords, have expressed opposition to the bill. They fear that the bill would cause landlords to sell up, reducing the number of rental properties available.

A series of draft government amendments to the bill were circulated for approval on a WhatsApp group of Tory MPs concerned about the bill.

One of those Conservative MPs told the BBC: "Agreement seems to have been reached on nearly all points."

But Tom Darling, campaign manager of the Renters' Reform Coalition, said: "It is scandalous and farcical that the government are now outsourcing the writing of the Renters (Reform) Bill to their landlord backbenchers. It reeks of desperation."

The draft government amendments include putting it in law that the ban on no-fault evictions could not be implemented until an assessment of its impact on the courts had been published by the Justice Secretary.

It comes after MPs on the housing select committee last year warned that abolishing no-fault evictions would lead to increased pressure on the courts, because landlords will have to give a reason to remove a tenant, such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour.

Mr Darling said the government amendment meant the ban on no-fault evictions was "even further into the long grass".

The National Residential Landlords Association, which represents more than 100,000 landlords, called for renters to have to sign up for at least six months and for measures to "ensure confidence for all in the court process".

It added that "uncertainty about the future is destabilising and damaging for those living and working in the private-rented sector".

When Housing Secretary Michael Gove was asked whether the practice of no-fault evictions would have ended by the time of the next general election, he told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "We will have outlawed it and we will have put the money into the courts in order to ensure that they enforce that."

The government is also promising to review the system by which councils can regulate landlords and enforce standards, known as selective licensing.

'Betrayal'

In the documents circulated to potential rebel Tory MPs, the government promised to announce a review of the scheme "with the explicit aim of reducing burdens on landlords".

Among the other draft amendments the government is suggesting:

• Requiring renters to live in a property for a minimum of four months before they can give notice to end their tenancy

• Allow "hearsay" evidence in eviction claims for antisocial behaviour

Deputy Labour leader and shadow housing secretary Angela Rayner accused the government of "yet another betrayal of renters", adding it was "yet another example of Rishi Sunak's weakness which means he always puts party before country".

She also called for a statement to be made to MPs, saying the news had emerged in an "underhand way".

Labour has promised to ban no-fault evictions, "no ifs, no buts", if it wins a general election.

A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: "Our landmark Renters (Reform) Bill will deliver a fairer private rented sector for both tenants and landlords. It will abolish section 21 evictions - giving people more security in their homes and empowering them to challenge poor practices.

"We continue to meet regularly with a range of groups, representing all those in the private rented sector."