Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The purpose of the inquiry is to scrutinise the Government’s proposals for reforming the private rented sector as set out in its White Paper, A Fairer Private Rented Sector .
19
Recommendations
11
Conclusions
1
Report
2
Oral sessions
14
Letters
2
Events
Activity timeline 20 events
20 Oct
2023
2023
11 Jul
2023
2023
13 Jun
2023
2023
13 Jun
2023
2023
6 Jun
2023
2023
26 May
2023
2023
23 May
2023
2023
18 Apr
2023
2023
7 Mar
2023
2023
9 Feb
2023
2023
Report published
7 Feb
2023
2023
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
7 Nov 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral evidence
Charlotte Spencer · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Councillor Ben Fitter-Harding · Canterbury City Council
Councillor Ian Corkin · Cherwell District Council
Felicity Buchan · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
5 Sep 2022
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Oral evidence
Ben Beadle · National Residential Landlords' Association
Ben Beadle · National Residential Landlords Association
Councillor Darren Rodwell · Local Government Association
Councillor Matt Noble · Westminster Council
Councillor Tom Renhard · Bristol Council
Eloise Shepherd · London Councils
Nikita Quarshie · Shelter
The Baroness Kennedy of Cradley · Generation Rent
Theo Plowman · British Property Federation
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fifth Report - Reforming the Private Rented Sector | HC 624 | 9 Feb 2023 | 30 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
2
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
The one exception is the general student PRS market.
The one exception is the general student PRS market. The abolition of fixed-term contracts could make letting to students considerably less attractive to private landlords and so ultimately push up rents or reduce the availability of student rental properties, at …
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Government Response
The government will introduce a ground for possession that will facilitate the yearly cycle of short-term student tenancies, but rejects retaining fixed terms as it unfairly locks students into contracts. It will not introduce codes which cover all student housing.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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3
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
We recognise that the majority of private landlords are responsible and have no desire or...
We recognise that the majority of private landlords are responsible and have no desire or financial incentive to evict tenants without good reason, and that for these landlords section 21 feels like an indispensable means of evicting bad tenants, but …
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Government Response
The government is retaining the two-month notice period and will mitigate misuse of the sales/occupation grounds by restricting landlords from remarketing/reletting within three months of using those grounds.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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4
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
We recommend that the Government: • increase from six months to one year the period...
We recommend that the Government: • increase from six months to one year the period at the start of a tenancy during which the landlord may not use either ground; • increase the notice period from two months to four …
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Government Response
The government has declined to increase the initial period where landlords cannot use grounds for possession to one year or increase the notice period to four months, but will maintain the current six-month restriction and two-month notice period. The government will mitigate misuse of grounds by restricting landlords from remarketing or reletting the property within three months of using moving or selling grounds.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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6
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
We strongly recommend that the Government introduce a specialist housing court as the surest way...
We strongly recommend that the Government introduce a specialist housing court as the surest way of unblocking the housing court process. Whether it does this or not, it is absolutely essential that the Government significantly increase the courts’ ability to …
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Government Response
The government is working with the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunal Service to improve the court possession process, including digitizing more of the process, exploring prioritization of certain cases like antisocial behavior, improving bailiff recruitment, and providing early legal advice for tenants. Implementation will not take place until sufficient progress has been made to improve the courts, and the abolition of Section 21 will not proceed until reforms to the justice system are in place.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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7
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
A properly functioning courts system should resolve most of the issues with the process of...
A properly functioning courts system should resolve most of the issues with the process of seeking possession under section 8, but further adjustments to the discretionary ground for possession in respect of antisocial behaviour are also necessary. As currently designed, …
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Government Response
The government agrees with the intent to ensure landlords can act more quickly to evict antisocial tenants and will make grounds for possession faster and easier to prove, while maintaining judicial discretion in antisocial behaviour cases and will reduce the notice period for the mandatory antisocial behavior ground. They will ensure courts can make a possession order where tenants are evicted on the grounds of ASB and later convicted of an offence and will not make Ground 14 mandatory.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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27
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
Currently, letting agents are required to belong to one of two government-approved ombudsman schemes, the...
Currently, letting agents are required to belong to one of two government-approved ombudsman schemes, the Property Redress Scheme or the Property Ombudsman, but membership for landlords is voluntary. The White Paper proposes the introduction of an ombudsman for all private …
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Government Response
The government recognises the value of consolidating the housing redress system, but will address it through the Landlord Ombudsman service and does not think it is necessary to bring different elements of housing redress under a single legal framework.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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28
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
The Government says it will make it illegal for landlords to have blanket bans on...
The Government says it will make it illegal for landlords to have blanket bans on letting to benefit recipients. If this is a commitment to preventing landlords from discriminating against benefit recipients, it is unrealistic. If it is a commitment …
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Government Response
The government will prohibit blanket bans on benefit recipients, but landlords can still make final decisions based on referencing checks. They will work with the insurance sector, explore improvements to welfare support information, and raise awareness of services provided by local councils.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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30
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Reforming the Priva…
The success of the Government’s reforms depends to a great extent on tenants knowing their...
The success of the Government’s reforms depends to a great extent on tenants knowing their rights, and on landlords knowing that they know them. For this 64 Reforming the Private Rented Sector reason, the Government should update the How to …
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Government Response
The government plans to update the 'How to Rent' guide and modernize the way it communicates tenants' rights and responsibilities. They will work with various groups to maximize access to advice and report back to the Select Committee, though the specific request for the ombudsman to award compensation for failing to provide a copy of the guide was not addressed.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Government Response AI assessment · 30 of 19 classified
Accepted
1
Acknowledged
12
Deferred
3
Rejected
6
Total
19 recs + 11 conclusions
Correspondence 14 letters
11 Jul 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 5 July 2023 concerning reforming the private rented sector
Parliament page
13 Jun 2023
To committee
Letter from the British Property Federation to the Chair dated 1 June 2023 concerning the Renters (Reform) Bill
Parliament page
13 Jun 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning dated 12 June 2023 concerning the response to the Committee's report on Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
6 Jun 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 2 June 2023 concerning the Renters (Reform) Bill
Parliament page
26 May 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State dated 25 May 2023 concerning the Renters (Reform) Bill and the private rented sector
Parliament page
23 May 2023
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 17 May 2023 concerning the introduction of the Renters (Reform) Bill
Parliament page
18 Apr 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 6 April 2023 concerning the Government response to the Committee's report on Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
7 Mar 2023
Briefing note from the National Residential Landlord Association to the Committee concerning evidence given before the Committee on 5 September 2022
Parliament page
7 Feb 2023
Note from Ben Beaumont, Barrister, and Robert Ashdown, CPA, dated 8 January 2023, concerning arbitration in the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
7 Feb 2023
To committee
Letter from the Large Agents Representation Group to the Chair dated 2 February 2023 concerning the property portal for the private rented sector
Parliament page
6 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Housing and Homelessness to the Chair dated 30 November 2022 concerning Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
6 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the National Residential Landlords Association to the Chair dated 28 November 2022 concerning the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
12 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the National Residential Landlords Association to the Chair dated 22 September 2022 following up evidence given to the Committee on Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page
6 Sep 2022
To committee
Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 4 August 2022 concerning the Committee's inquiry into Reforming the Private Rented Sector
Parliament page