The government’s flagship Renters Reform Bill, which would end Section 21 evictions, is on the brink of collapse, according to The Sun.
The newspaper reports that Whitehall insiders have claimed the Conservative manifesto promise to end so-called no fault evictions is on track to fail because Michael Gove is being held “ransom” by angry Tory MPs.
The Conservative party‘s 2019 manifesto pledged to end the right of landlords to evict tenants without needing a reason in 2019.
However, the legislation has been continuously delayed, leading housing campaigners to question the government’s commitment.
But the government has previously said a ban cannot be enacted until the court system is improved – a position supported by the National Residential Landlords Association.
In October last year, MPs started debating the Renters (Reform) Bill, which includes a ban on Section 21 evictions in England, but the legislation has not yet completed its passage through Parliament.
But last month the housing secretary pledged to pass the Reform Bill before a general election this year.
Asked if he could guarantee the practice would end by the time of the next general election, which must take place by the end of January 2025, Michael Gove told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme yesterday: “We will have outlawed it and we will have put the money into the courts in order to ensure that they can enforce that.”
Gove’s legislation has faced significant opposition from within his own party, as almost one in five Conservative MPs are also landlords. It is worth noting that there are a plethora of landlords across other political parties, including Labour.
Late last year, a series of Conservative MPs voiced their opposition to the Renters Reform Bill, saying it would add “to the burden of landlords”.
In the Commons, Conservative former minister Sir Edward Leigh told MPs: “Banning no-fault evictions will make the rental market even more stagnant and will lead to a further drying up of it.”
He added: “And apart from adding to the burden of landlords, we don’t want a situation that happened in Ireland, where the regulatory burdens on landlords is such that the rental sector has shrunk massively and governments have paid the price in terms of popularity.”
Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown also said the bill would have a “disastrous effect” on areas including his constituency “in reducing the number of rental properties, and therefore increasing the price of rent, and for youngsters this is really serious”.
Now, according to The Sun, officials have accused a backbench Tories, including some landlords, of refusing to compromise on the legislation.
Sources say that the charge against the Bill is being led by Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall.
A Whitehall source said: “The Renters Reform Bill looks like it may now collapse and the Tories risk breaking their manifesto commitment to end no fault evictions.
“Officials are at a total loss given both pro-landlord groups like the National Residential Landlords Association and pro-renters groups like the Renters Reform Coalition want this bill passed ASAP.
“It seems a small group of landlord MPs, led by Anthony Mangnall, are holding the bill to ransom.”
Mangnall, who is not himself a landlord, insisted he supports abolishing Section 21 evictions.
But he claimed a large number of Tories are disappointed about the Bill banning fixed-term rental tenancies and replacing them with periodic tenancies that do not have an end date.
Mangnall said: “I want to amend the Bill not to kill it.
“It’s my role as a legislator to ensure we pass sensible legislation. We’ve had constructive meetings with Michael Gove.
“This is about trying to find the right balance.”
Tom Darling, campaign manager at the Renters Reform Coalition, slammed the government for the latest delay in ensuring the bill progresses through the house.
He said: “Another delay to this legislation caused by an ungovernable rump of Conservative MPs – many of whom are landlords.
“It’s becoming clear they are intent on tanking their own manifesto commitment to end no-fault evictions at the eleventh hour.
“The truth is the Renters (Reform) Bill is the bare minimum renters need – we won’t support a grubby deal between the Government and landlord backbenchers that is little better than the miserable status quo.”
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson 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.”
Almost a third of Tory MPs trying to water down Renters Reform Bill are landlords
