The 1st day of the Report Stage of the Renters’ Rights Bill debate took place on 1st July. 50 of the 125 amendments tabled were covered. Each amendment is explained by the Lords member who put it forward, then other Peers speak to support or challenge it. The proposer then puts their suggested amendment to a vote. If the House votes in favour, it is added to the current draft of the Bill.
Sessions 2 and 3 of the report stage are scheduled for 7th and 15th July. The amended Bill will then receive a 3rd reading in the Lords before returning to the House of Commons to gain approval from MPs.
If there is disagreement on any of the amendments, the Bill will be passed between the two houses until an agreement is reached. Then the final version of the legislation moves forward to Royal Assent.
Accepted Amendments from Day 1 of Report Stage
Student Accomodation Ground – Mandatory Ground 4a will apply to all properties rented to students which are needed for occupation by new students in line with the academic year. As originally drafted, it only applied to Houses of Multiple Occupation, defined as having three or more bedrooms. However, Baroness Scott of Bybrook successfully put forward an amendment to remove this restriction. Ground 4a will now also be in use for to one and two bedroom student properties.
Ban on Rent in Advance for New Tenancies Only
A UK Government amendment was accepted, which excludes existing leases, i.e. any started before the enactment of the legislation, from the prohibition on rent due in advance.
Tenancies for Carers
Peers voted in favour of a new ground for possession which would allow a landlord to seek possession of a property needed to house a carer for the landlord, or a member of the landlord’s family, if the property is near the person requiring care.
Other Points Discussed
Rent Increases – Baroness Taylor, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, stated that the UK Government believes there is a compelling case for an alternative mechanism to make initial rent determinations before cases reach the First Tier Tribunal. The UK Government intends to introduce such a system as soon as possible and will give more details in due course. The aim would be to reduce the number of cases that progress to the Tribunal, relieving pressure on the service and helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of the system.
Pets – The UK Government has removed the requirement for pet insurance from the Bill, prompting a new call for pet damage deposit options. In January, Propertymark met with The Earl of Kinnoull, convenor of the Crossbench group of Peers, to discuss a proposal to introduce an additional pet deposit. The amendment has been tabled again at Report Stage. The amendment requires the tenant to make an additional pet damage deposit, which must be of equivalent value to three weeks’ rent. This would provide a better way to support renters and protect landlords.
Article Abridged from Propertymark
https://www.propertymark.co.uk/resource/amendment-to-extend-student-ground-accepted-by-lords.html
