Renters’ Rights Bill – in the House of Commons at 6:11 pm on 14 January 2025.
Votes in this debate
Amendments made: 53, page 219, line 27, at end insert—
“(aa) paragraph (ca) were omitted;”
This is consequential on Amendment 18.
Amendment 54, page 220, line 7, leave out “(ab)” and insert
“(c) in case C where the “additional RSL condition” is met”.—(Matthew Pennycook.)
This is consequential on Amendment 19.
Third Reading
King’s consent signified.
Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
6:57,
14 January 2025
I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.
It has been a real privilege to take this vital piece of legislation through the House. I want to thank everyone who has played a role in getting the Bill to this stage: my right hon. Friend the Deputy prime minister for her passionate commitment to improving the lives of England’s 11 million private renters; the Department’s Bill team who have worked tirelessly on the legislation for the past six months; my outstanding private office, including my fantastic private secretary Will Gaby, who has led the team on the Bill; the Clerks, Chairs and parliamentary counsel for facilitating its progress; the witnesses who gave evidence to the Committee; and hon. Members from across the House who provided valuable input today and at previous stages.
The current system for private renting is broken. While the Government recognise that the Majority of landlords provide high-quality homes and a good service to their tenants, it remains the case that the private rented sector still provides the least affordable, poorest quality and most insecure housing of all tenures. This intolerable state of affairs is why renters have been demanding change for many years, and I am extremely proud that this Government have acted so early in the Parliament to deliver it.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver on our manifesto commitment to overhaul the regulation of the private rented sector and to decisively raise standards within it. It is bitterly disappointing that despite not forcing a single Division in Committee, the Opposition decided today to set their face firmly against private rented sector reform on the basis of a series of specious and, indeed, spurious arguments. They may be intent on letting down England’s private renters once again, but this Labour Government will not put tens of thousands of them at risk of homelessness, nor will we prolong the uncertainty that responsible landlords across the country have experienced over recent years by hesitating. We will finish the job and give England’s 11 million private renters the greater security, rights and protections they deserve. I wish Baroness Taylor the best with moving the Bill forward in the other place, and I commend it to the House.
Nusrat Ghani
Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Ways and Means
I call Kevin Hollinrake, who has 35 seconds.
Kevin Hollinrake
Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
6:59,
14 January 2025
I draw the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
It is not wrong, spurious or specious to stand up for 11 million tenants. We know that tenants and landlords are two sides of the same coin. As the Leader of the Opposition said, we agree that tenants need a better deal, but this Bill will not give that to them. The Minister is following in the footsteps of Scotland. The Bill will reduce supply and push up rent, and that is why we are against it—
Debate interrupted (Programme Order,
The Deputy Speaker put forthwith the Question already proposed from the Chair
(
Division number 79
Renters' Rights Bill: Third Reading
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