Introduction
The first reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill took place on 17 May 2023, and the Bill has now started its journey towards becoming legislation. The process will be lengthy and the Bill is unlikely to become law until at least 2024, if not 2025.
What Happens Next?
Michael Gove (the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) promised the Bill would become law before Christmas 2023. However, the second reading debate did not happen before parliament broke up for the summer on 20 July 2023.
The second reading is highlighted as an outstanding matter on the Order Papers when Parliament returns after the summer recess on 4 September 2023. Still, there is no scheduled date for the Bill's consideration before the recess for the Party Conferences between 19 September and 16 October 2023.
The impact of the delay is that The Renters (Reform) Bill is very unlikely to receive Royal Assent until 2024 at the earliest. There is also a possibility that the Prime Minister will call for a General Election as early as May 2024.
Delayed Abolition Of Section 21
There will be a knock-on delay in implementing the Bill's provisions. In particular, the "second implementation date", which would abolish Section 21 and bring in the new laws for existing tenancies, is now unlikely to happen before Autumn 2025 at the earliest, but more likely in 2026.