Advanced

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Private Rented Sector - 22 April 2024 (Commons/Commons Chamber)

Debate Detail

Contributions from Fleur Anderson, are highlighted with a yellow border.
Lab
Fleur Anderson
Putney
1. What steps he is taking to reform the private rented sector.
  14:35:16
Jacob Young
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Renters (Reform) Bill will have its Report stage on Wednesday 24 April. The Bill abolishes section 21 evictions, moves the sector to a system of periodic tenancies and introduces a private rented sector property portal and ombudsman, improving the system for responsible tenants and good-faith landlords.
  14:35:45
Fleur Anderson
Ministers first promised to end no-fault evictions five years ago. Since then, 85,000 households have been threatened with no-fault evictions, including a constant stream of residents in Putney. Does the Minister not agree that that was ample time to implement the necessary improvements and that the delay has caused immense suffering to people in the private rented sector?
Jacob Young
I agree with the hon. Lady that we need to abolish section 21 evictions as soon as possible. When it comes to the Bill, we published the White Paper in 2022, we published the Bill in 2023 and we are bringing forward the Report stage on Wednesday.
  14:36:01
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
SNP
Ms Anum Qaisar
Airdrie and Shotts
In 2019, the UK Government announced plans to outlaw no-fault eviction notices. However, just last week, the housing charity Shelter revealed that almost 1 million renters in England have been served no-fault eviction notices since that announcement. While the Government seem to be unable to get the rental reform agenda past their Conservative Back Benchers, the Scottish Parliament banned no-fault evictions back in 2017. Does the Minister agree that that is yet another example of the Scottish Parliament delivering for the people while Westminster dysfunction only lets them down?
  14:36:41
Jacob Young
As I said to the hon. Member for Putney (Fleur Anderson), we are abolishing section 21 evictions. The Bill will return to the House on Wednesday.

Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.