With parliament's summer recess rapidly approaching, the upcoming parliamentary schedule does not include a second reading of the Renters Reform Bill — something the automated rental payment and reconciliation platform, PayProp, is encouraging letting agents to have their say on.
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee (DLUHC) was able to question housing minister Rachel Maclean yesterday (10th July 2023) on the details of the Bill.
The committee enquired about key policies, such as extending the Decent Homes Standards to the PRS and outlawing discrimination against tenants with children or receiving benefits, which were missing from the Bill despite being included in the government's official guidance.
According to PayProp, there is an expectation that these policies will be added as amendments during the second reading, but it says there is also concern from the industry that it will not leave enough time for proper parliamentary scrutiny of these important policies.
Neil Cobbold, MD at PayProp UK, commented: “A lot of the important details are still up in the air and with the Bill not getting its second reading until at least September, this gives agents the summer to get organised and share their views with their MPs.”
As part of the platform’s push to promote the views of lettings professionals, it hosted an informal roundtable discussion with Conservative MP for Northampton South, Andrew Lewer and senior representatives from Belvoir, Dexters, Foxtons, Knight Frank, Leaders Romans Group, LSL Property Services, Savills and The Property Franchise Group.
PayProp is asking for the views of all letting agents in its survey, titled Life after the Renters [Reform] Bill, as it promises to present the results to the government, MPs and peers.
Neil added: “We’ve already seen the government make changes based on feedback from the industry, so the more voices we have, the better the chance lettings professionals will be consulted on this Bill and future changes to the industry.”
