Renters' Rights Bill concludes Lords committee stage

The Renters' Rights Bill seeks to abolish fixed term assured tenancies and assured shorthold tenancies. It will also impose obligations on landlords and others in relation to rented homes and temporary and supported accommodation.

Line by line examination

Committee stage is a thorough examination of the individual parts (clauses) of the bill. 

Starting from the front of the bill, members work through the clauses in order, considering changes (amendments) to the wording or proposals for new clauses. 

Seven days of committee stage were scheduled:

• Tuesday 22 April
• Thursday 24 April
• Monday 28 April
• Tuesday 6 May
• Monday 12 May
• Wednesday 14 May
• Thursday 15 May.

Proposed changes    

Members speaking on the seventh and final day of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill on subjects including:

• Right to Buy in rural parishes exceeding 3000 people
• installation of mobility aids in properties
• early prevention of Section 21 (no-fault) evictions.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Explore further information 

Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.

Next steps

Report stage, a further chance to examine the bill and makes changes, is yet to be scheduled.

What's happened so far?

Committee stage day six: Wednesday 14 May 

Members speaking on day six of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill on subjects including:

• residential boat fees classified as rent
• mobile homes as sole residence
• landlord records of gas and safety checks
• minimum energy efficiency standards
• twenty-four-hour notice for inspections.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recordings: part one and part two.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript: part one and part two.

Committee stage day five: Monday 12 May

Members speaking on day five of committee stage have put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill on subjects including:

• limits and standard of proof for financial penalties
• guarantors
• joint tenancies
• home adaptions for people with disabilities
• student accommodation
• landlord records of gas and safety checks
• private renter sector database.

Catch up

• Watch live on Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day four: Tuesday 6 May

Members speaking on day four of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill on subjects including:

• tenants keeping pets
• home adaptions for people with disabilities
• financial penalties from local housing authorities
• private renter sector database.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording (part one and part two).
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two).

Committee stage day three: Monday 28 April

Members speaking on day three of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill on subjects including:

• repossessions during school holidays
• social housing rent increases
• screening process for rental appeals.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day two: Thursday 24 April

Members speaking on day two of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill on subjects including:

• subletting regulations 
• provision for shared ownership leases
• agricultural tenancies.

Catch up

• Watch live on Parliament TV (part one and part two).
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two)

Committee stage day one: Tuesday 22 April

Members speaking on day one of committee stage  put forward amendments (changes) to the bill on subjects including:

• two month notice periods
• fixed tenancies for students
• voluntary extension agreements.

Catch up

• Watch the debate on Parliament TV (part one and part two).
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two).

Second reading 

Second reading, a full debate on the key principles of the bill, took place on Tuesday 4 February.

Image: Jay Wennington / Unsplash