Renters' Rights Bill on Lords agenda

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.

Debate on the draft law 

During second reading, members discuss the main topics in the bill and highlight concerns or specific areas where they think amendments (changes) are needed. 

Members speaking

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Labour), Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing and Local Government, opened the debate and responded on behalf of the government. 

Members speaking in the debate included:

• Lord Best (Crossbench), former chief executive of the National Housing Federation
• Baroness Eaton (Conservative), vice president of the Local Government Association
• Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat), former director of communications at Shelter
• Lord Jamieson and Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Conservative), shadow ministers for Housing, Communities and Local Government
• Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe (Labour), board chair for the Property Ombudsman.

Opening the debate, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said:

'The private rental system needs to change. It currently provides the least affordable, poorest quality and most insecure housing of all tenures. The insecurity it engenders creates uncertainty in the lives of tenants and allows good landlords to be undercut by the minority of rogues and chancers.'

Baroness Scott of Bybrook said:

'The Renters’ Rights Bill is counterproductive. While the government may have good intentions, they will drive landlords from the market—reducing choice and putting up rent for the tenants they seek to protect.'

Catch up

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

Explore further information 

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

Next steps

Committee stage, line by line examination of the bill, is yet to be scheduled.

Image: Unsplash / Jay Wennington