The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has criticised the government for shelving the Renters Reform Bill, calling it “a huge betrayal” of London’s private renters.
The bill failed to become law, as it was not debated on 24th May, the last day before the prorogation of parliament ahead of the general election on 4th July.
This means all legislation changes proposed in the bill — including the abolition of section 21 no-fault evictions — will not be implemented in the PRS.
The mayor expressed his concerns about the failure to pass the bill and to abolish no-fault evictions, stating that this would leave thousands of Londoners at increased risk of housing insecurity and homelessness.
According to the latest Ministry of Justice figures covering Q1 2024, landlord possession claims increased from 23,389 to 24,874 (6%), orders from 17,644 to 18,154 (3%), warrants from 10,503 to 11,407 (9%) and repossessions from 6,501 to 6,864 (6%).
A concentration of landlord possession actions was seen in London, with 8,004 landlord claims and 5,501 landlord orders at London courts in January to March 2024.
“The government’s failure to pass the Renters Reform Bill before the dissolution of Parliament today is a huge betrayal of London’s private renters, who are left with the threat of eviction hanging over their heads,” said Khan.
“These latest stats from [the Ministry of Justice] are shocking, and the unacceptable delay to this vital bill will leave even more renters in the capital at unnecessary risk of housing insecurity and homelessness."
“I’m doing all I can to build a better, fairer London for everyone by supporting tenants, but I cannot act alone. Renters’ rights must be a national priority and no-fault evictions banned for good.”
Ben Twomey, chief executive at Generation Rent, added: "Banning section 21 evictions has the potential to make a huge difference to renters' lives and reduce the number of us who have to get our council's help to avoid homelessness.
“Abandoning the Renters Reform Bill as parliament dissolves means the government has failed in its promise to renters at the last election to deliver a fairer tenancy system.
"Whoever forms the next government must make rental reform a key part of their agenda — this means proper protections from evictions when we have done nothing wrong, and limits on unaffordable rent rises so we can’t be turfed on to the streets at a landlord’s whim.”
