How exactly will the Renters’ Rights Bill improve the supply-demand imbalance in the PRS?

It is just over six years since Theresa May’s government first announced the Renters Reform Bill as a “step change” in protections for renters, ending Section 21 evictions and giving landlords and tenants more rights. It was hailed as “the biggest change to the private rental sector for a generation”.

Announcing the plans, the then-prime minister said: “Everyone in the private sector has the right to feel secure in their home, settled in their community and able to plan for the future with confidence.

“But millions of responsible tenants could still be uprooted by their landlord with little notice, and often little justification.

“This is wrong – and today we’re acting by preventing these unfair evictions. Landlords will still be able to end tenancies when they have legitimate reasons to do so, but they will no longer be able to unexpectedly evict families with only eight weeks’ notice.”

Despite May’s pledge, consecutive Conservative governments failed to deliver the proposed changes to the private rented sector, leaving Labour, elected to office last year, to take the reins.

The Labour government has since being elected to power last year abolished the proposed Renters Reform Bill and introduced the Renters Right Bill instead.

Various concerns regarding the newer Bill have been raised resulting in several suggested amendments. But that has not stopped the government pressing ahead with its plans – determined to introduce changes to the PRS ASAP. So much so that the deputy prime minister and housing secretary, Angela Rayner, was earlier this week accused of “bullying tactics” in order to push through Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill.

But while many property industry professionals accept the need for reform, very few are happy with the existing proposed changes in their entirety.