Among these is a proposal for the government to publish a review of the operation of possession proceedings in the courts before section 21 is abolished, in order to address concerns that the courts are not prepared for the impact of the end of section 21 repossessions.

The MPs have also proposed that the government scrap the use of landlord selective licensing schemes by councils once the national Property Portal for the PRS will be established.

Other amendments tabled ahead of the bill’s report stage include:

• enact the recommendations of the cross-party housing select committee that tenants be unable to give notice to leave a property until they have been in it for at least four months when fixed-term tenancies end
• enable evidence such as texts or emails from neighbours to be taken into account by the courts when deciding if a tenant has engaged in anti-social behaviour
• extend the government’s proposed ground for possession to achieve this to one- and two-bedroom student properties, not just HMOs

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “We accept that section 21 is going and agree that tenants need to feel empowered to challenge the actions of rogue and criminal landlords. 

•   The Finance Professional Show 2023: The Video
•   Additional burdens brought on by selective licensing could force more landlords out of the PRS
•   Professionalising the PRS: the impact of the Renters Reform Bill during 2024