Michael Gove 'betrays' renters as Tories water down crackdown on landlords

Ministers have been accused of ‘selling renters down the river’

Michael Gove has been accused of a “cowardly” betrayal of renters as the Government proposed watering down vital reforms.

It follows a backlash from Tory MPs – including some who are landlords – over long-delayed proposals to strengthen renters’ rights. Campaigners said the changes to the Renters’ Reform Bill set out by the Government meant it was fast becoming a “landlords’ charter”.

The Tories promised in their 2019 general election manifesto to abolish section 21 notices, which allow landlords to evict tenants on a whim and without reason. Charities have long argued the measure has led to a spike in homelessness. But a Government amendment makes clear the proposal will be delayed until a review of courts, which face a dire backlog, has been carried out.

A letter sent to Tory MPs said it will “require the Lord Chancellor [Alex Chalk] to publish an assessment on barriers to possession and the readiness of the courts in advance of abolishing section 21 for existing tenancies”.

The Bill also planned to allow renters to end a tenancy with two months’ notice at any point. But this will now be changed to prevent them ending contracts within the first six months.

The letter added: “We are considering exemptions, such as the death of a tenant, or domestic abuse, or significant hazards to the property. In effect, it creates a default fixed-term of six months in all contracts and mirrors a standard break clause in many existing contracts”.

The chief executive of the charity Shelter, Polly Neate, said: “It’s cowardly that the government would rather betray renters than stand up to a minority of MP’s hell-bent on browbeating them into watering down the Renters (Reform) Bill. England’s 11 million renters will not forget a laundry list of broken promises when they head to the ballot box.”

Tom Darling, the campaign manager at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said the Government was “selling renters down the river”.

He claimed it would prevent the vast majority of tenants from seeing the end of section 21 notices before the general election.

Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook added: “Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove have chosen once again to put the interests of party management ahead of what is right for the British people. After years of delay, private renters have every right to be furious at the watering down of the vital protections the Tories promised them.”

A DLUHC spokesman said: “Our landmark Renters (Reform) Bill will deliver a fairer private rented sector for both tenants and landlords. It will abolish section 21 evictions – giving people more security in their homes and empowering them to challenge poor practices.

“The Bill must strike the balance between delivering security for tenants and fairness for landlords. We have listened to feedback from landlord and tenant groups and from MPs, and will bring amendments forward at Commons Report Stage after Easter recess.”