Peers have re-tabled a few amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill ahead of next week’s debate in the House of Lords. The Bill continues its passage through Parliament in the final “ping-pong” stage, where MPs and peers work to agree the final text before the legislation can receive Royal Assent.
Those amendments are of particular interest to landlords in the private rented sector are below:
1. Student Possession Ground (Ground 4A)
What’s proposed:
Baroness Scott of Bybrook has re-tabled an amendment to extend the student possession ground to cover one- and two-bedroom properties as well as larger shared student homes.
- Why it matters:
Around a third of student lets are one- or two-bedroom homes. - Without this extension, landlords of smaller student properties may not be able to regain possession at the end of an academic year.
- This could reduce supply in the student rental market, which already faces pressure from high demand.
- Research suggests almost half of students are concerned about housing availability.
If approved, the change would provide greater clarity and consistency across all student tenancies.
2. Re-letting After Using the Sale Ground for Possession
What’s proposed:
Crossbench peer Lord Cromwell has re-tabled an amendment to reduce the re-letting ban from 12 months to 6 months for landlords who have regained possession on the grounds of sale.
Why it matters:
- Under the current proposal, a landlord who repossesses to sell cannot re-let for one year.
- This was intended to prevent misuse of the sale ground.
- However, a shorter six-month period is seen by some as a fairer balance, allowing landlords to re-let if a genuine sale cannot be achieved.
- It would also reduce the risk of homes standing empty unnecessarily.
3. Pets in Rental Properties: The Pet Deposit Amendment
What’s proposed:
The Renters’ Rights Bill will grant tenants the right to request a pet, and landlords must not unreasonably refuse.
Why it Matters
- The key point of contention has been how to allow landlords to protect against potential pet damage while maintaining the affordability of renting.
- There is a question mark over whether to increase the 5-week deposit amount to cover any potential damage or to introduce pet insurance.
- The increase in the deposit could be unaffordable for many tenants.
Next Steps
The House of Lords will debate these amendments again on Tuesday 14th October. If peers vote to reinstate them, the Bill will return to the House of Commons for further consideration. This “ping-pong” process can continue until both Houses agree on the final version.
Once agreement is reached, the Bill will be sent for Royal Assent and become law.
Implementation
When enacted, the Government will set out a timetable for introduction. Key provisions expected to come into force first include:
- The abolition of Section 21 “no fault” evictions; and
- The transition to periodic tenancies for all renters.
Other measures, such as the new landlord database and ombudsman service, are likely to follow at a later date.
In summary:
These two amendments could have practical implications for landlords managing student lets or properties being sold. We will continue to monitor developments closely and update members as the Bill progresses through Parliament.