Issue- 1st May 2024
Renters (Reform) Bill NEW
This Government Bill would change the law about rented homes, abolish fixed term assured tenancies and assured shorthold tenancies; and impose obligations on landlords and others in relation to rented homes and temporary and supported accommodation. The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons and given its first reading on 17 May 2023 and its second reading on 23 October 2023. The Bill had its report stage and third reading on 24 April 2024 its report stage and third reading. It will now proceed to the House of Lords for consideration. For a schedule showing changes which would be made by the Bill (as introduced) to the Housing Act 1988 should the Bill receive Royal Assent, click here. For the Bill, as amended in committee, click here. For a House of Commons Library an overview of the Bill’s progress through the House of Commons prior to report stage, click here. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill
This Government Bill would amend the rights of tenants under long residential leases to acquire the freeholds of their houses, to extend the leases of their houses or flats, and to collectively enfranchise or manage the buildings containing their flats, to give such tenants the right to reduce the rent payable under their leases to a peppercorn, to regulate charges and costs payable by residential tenants, to regulate residential estate management and to regulate rent charges. The Bill had its report stage and third reading on 27 February 2024 and passed to the House of Lords where it had its first reading on 28 February and its second reading on 27 March 2024. Committee stage began on 22 April 2024.To read the Bill, as brought from the Commons, click here. To follow progress of the Bill, click here. For a guide to the Bill, produced by the DLUHC, click here. For a House of Commons Library briefing on the Bill providing an overview of its progress through the House of Commons prior to report stage, click here.
Renters (Reform) Bill
This Government Bill would change the law about rented homes, abolish fixed term assured tenancies and assured shorthold tenancies; and impose obligations on landlords and others in relation to rented homes and temporary and supported accommodation. The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons and given its first reading on 17 May 2023 and its second reading on 23 October 2023. The Public Bill Committee has completed its work and reported the Bill with amendments to the House. The Bill is now due to have its report stage and third reading on 24 April 2024. For a schedule showing changes which would be made by the Bill (as introduced) to the Housing Act 1988 should the Bill receive Royal Assent, click here. For the Bill, as amended in committee, click here. For a House of Commons Library an overview of the Bill’s progress through the House of Commons prior to report stage, click here. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Under-Occupancy Penalty (Report) Bill
This private members’ Bill, sponsored by Chris Stevens, would require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of repealing those provisions of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 which provide for persons to be paid reduced rates of housing benefit or universal credit because their accommodation is deemed to be under-occupied. It had its first reading on 11 December 2023. Second reading is now scheduled to take place on 26 April 2024. The Bill has not yet been published. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Asylum Seekers (Accommodation Eviction Procedures) Bill
This private members’ Bill, sponsored by sponsored by Chris Stevens, would make provision for asylum seekers to challenge the proportionality of a proposed eviction from accommodation before an independent court or tribunal; and to establish asylum seeker accommodation eviction procedures for public authorities. It had its first reading on 11 December 2023. Second reading is now scheduled to take place on 26 April 2024. The Bill has not yet been published. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Caravan Sites Bill NEW
This private members’ Bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, would amend the requirements for caravan site licence applications made under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. It had its first reading on 11 December 2023. Second reading is now scheduled to take place on 26 April 2024. The Bill has not yet been published. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Caravan Site Licensing (Exemption of Motor Homes) Bill NEW
This private members’ Bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, would exempt motor homes from caravan site licensing requirements. It had its first reading on 11 December 2023. Second reading is now scheduled to take place on 26 April 2024. The Bill has not yet been published. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Evictions (Universal Credit) Bill NEW
This private members’ Bill, sponsored by Chris Stevens, would place a duty on the Secretary of State to prevent the evictions of Universal Credit claimants in rent arrears. It had its first reading on 11 December 2023. Second reading is now scheduled to take place on 26 April 2024. The Bill has not yet been published. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Affordable Housing (Conversion of Commercial Property) Bill
This private members’ Bill, sponsored by Vicky Ford, would make provision to enable local authorities to establish planning obligations relating to affordable housing in respect of the conversion of commercial property to residential use. It had its first reading on 11 December 2023. Second reading is now scheduled to take place on 14 June 2024. The Bill has not yet been published. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (Amendment) Bill
This private members’ Bill, sponsored by Fleur Anderson, would require landlords in the private rented sector to remedy hazards in leased dwellings. It had its first reading on 11 December 2023. Second reading is now scheduled to take place on 26 April 2024. The Bill has not yet been published. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill
This private members’ Bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, would amend the Mobile Homes Act 1983. It had its first reading on 11 December 2023. Second reading is scheduled to take place on 7 June 2024. The Bill has not yet been published. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Housing Standards (Refugees and Asylum Seekers) Bill
This private members’ Bill, sponsored by Chris Stevens, would make provision for national minimum standards in accommodation offered to refugees and asylum seekers. It had its first reading on 11 December 2023. Second reading is scheduled to take place on 7 June 2024. The Bill has not yet been published. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.
Housing Act 1998 (Amendment) Bill
This Bill, sponsored by Baroness Twycross, would amend the Housing Act 1988 so that long leases of residential dwellings would not be deemed to be assured tenancies for the purposes of that Act. The Bill received its first reading in the House of Lords on 21 November 2023. The second reading is yet to be scheduled. For the Bill itself, click here. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.