The House of Lords has relented in its attempts to modify the Renters\u2019 Rights Bill, including with an amendment that would have allowed landlords to charge a deposit when renting to tenants with pets.<\/p>\n
The deposit would have covered three weeks of rent, and came after the government dropped the idea of mandating pet insurance for tenants.<\/p>\n
The Lords also tried to extent student possession grounds to one and two-bedroom properties, while they attempted to make it so landlords would be able to re-list properties after six months if they serve an eviction notice with a view to selling. Now they will have to wait a year instead.<\/p>\n
The trio of amendments were rejected in the Commons, and unsuccessfully re-tabled in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n
The bill will now return to the Commons before being granted Royal Assent.<\/p>\n
William Reeve, chief executive at Goodlord, said:\u00a0\u201cDespite rumours that they would dig their heels in, the House of Lords has clearly run out of steam.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce again, demand amongst the Lords for both a pet deposit scheme and changes to Ground 4A sparked much debate, but ultimately the government won out and these amendments won\u2019t become part of the final bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith all votes for the outstanding amendments going in the government\u2019s direction, the process of \u2018ping pong\u2019 comes to an end and the bill will move towards Royal Assent following final approval in the Commons.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t <\/p>\n
Greg Tsuman, managing director for lettings, Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents, said: \u201cAny further proposed amendments will only prolong parliamentary \u2018ping-pong\u2019.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWhatever was debated in the Lords was little more than political posturing and will not deliver meaningful change to the Bill given the overwhelming Commons majority. By delaying the inevitable, the Lords know they are helping no one.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the Bill undoubtedly falls short of striking a fair balance and\u00a0will likely make\u00a0life harder for tenants\u00a0through unintended \u2013 or perhaps otherwise \u2013 consequences, we must now pivot to preparation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe focus must shift to educating both landlords and tenants so they can adapt ahead of Royal Assent, which could come within weeks, and a full rollout, which is likely to happen by April next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aside from hoping the industry will move on, Tsuman is worried the government could tax investors more heavily in the upcoming Autumn Budget next month.<\/p>\n
If that happens, he could see supply dropping worrying low.<\/p>\n
Tsuman added: \u201cWhat poses the greater risk now are the tax changes on the horizon \u2013 these will determine whether landlords stay in the market or exit, and whether the rental sector can remain stable through the transition ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The House of Lords has relented in its attempts to modify the Renters\u2019 Rights Bill, including with an amendment that would have allowed landlords to charge a deposit when renting to tenants with pets. The deposit would have covered three weeks of rent, and came after the government dropped the idea of mandating pet insurance […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4635,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-second-home"],"yoast_head":"\n