Introduced in May 2023, the Renters Reform Bill represents a potentially transformative change for the rental market, promising to end “no fault” evictions and introduce a heap of other measures aimed at improving the lives of tenants and the operational standards for landlords and letting agents. As it stands, the path to enacting these changes remains fraught with political manoeuvring and contentious debate, leaving many to wonder when, or if, the promised reforms will come to fruition.

The journey of the Renters Reform Bill through parliament has stirred a mixed bag of reactions and raised eyebrows, particularly among those advocating for stronger protections for renters in England. It’s come to light that there have been some behind-the-scenes discussions among Conservative MPs, some of whom have direct interests as landlords, about potentially softening the bite of the new rules initially proposed in the bill. This has sparked a wave of criticism from campaigners who see this as a move away from the government’s 2019 promise to scrap Section 21 evictions, which allow landlords to evict tenants without a stated reason.

The crux of the controversy lies in the belief that the Bill, which aims to offer more security to England’s 11m private renters by limiting the conditions under which landlords can evict tenants, is being diluted. Suggestions that the government is looking to ease the responsibilities of landlords to provide safe housing have only added fuel to the fire of this debate.

Despite the rumblings of discontent, Housing Secretary Michael Gove has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to banish Section 21 evictions ahead of the next general election. However, the apparent concessions being made to appease landlord MPs have led to accusations of betrayal from the opposition, with Labour’s Angela Rayner demanding firm reassurances that the government will not backtrack on its promises to renters.