Thank you to all those who have contacted me about the Renters Reform Bill.

Although I welcomed the introduction of this long overdue Bill, I remain of the opinion that it is not fit for purpose. It contains numerous defects, deficiencies, omissions and loopholes that would allow the minority of disreputable landlords to exploit tenants and jeopardise their security of tenure. I believe it still needs strengthening for the benefit of renters.

As noted, Amendments 14 and 255 were tabled to the Renters (Reform) Bill at Report Stage. They sought to extend the period before a tenant could face eviction should a landlord choose to sell or move back in, and to give tenants more time to move out in such circumstances. However, they were not voted upon and therefore will not form part of the Bill going forward.

I was opposed to the Government’s New Clause 15, as in my opinion, there is no compelling rationale for it. Unfortunately, it passed with the support of Government MPs. As noted, the amendment stops tenants giving notice to quit a tenancy within the first six months, meaning that they will remain liable for six months’ rent in all circumstances.

The Government has said it will consider exemptions to the fixed initial letting period in serious circumstances, such as domestic abuse, death of a tenant or serious hazard in the property. However, I am concerned that nothing in the new clause as drafted, guarantees that any such exemptions will ultimately be made, or what they would look like in practice.

More widely, I want to see measures to fix the housing market, delivering the biggest boost to affordable, social, and council housing for a generation. This includes restoring local housing targets and reconsidering planning rules to build 1.5 million homes within a five-year period. As many constituents will know, housing issues are by far the most common issue raised to me in casework, with renters and leaseholders making up a significant portion of these. I believe we need to fundamentally reform the private rented sector to tilt the balance of power towards renters and make renting fairer, more secure, and more affordable.

Thank you once again to all those who have contacted me about this issue.