In a series of posts on LinkedIn, leading lettings solicitor David Smith of JMW Solicitor, has discussed the implementation date of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

At an early stage of the introduction of the Bill the Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, stated section 21 would be scrapped by summer 2025 and at the very latest by October 2025. In his posts Smith suggests that the Bill is not making sufficient progress to meet these deadlines.

He states “Where all this takes me is towards a suspicion that an October introduction is increasingly unlikely. I had thought that the government would be determined to stick to its October timing for political reasons but the longer things run in the Lords the less time that leaves for real preparation. It may be that the government is prepared to recognise this and nudge back its own implementation deadlines.

“At this stage, it would be useful for the Housing Minister to be clear about this and give the sector a clear commitment of how long they can expect between Royal Assent and implementation of core parts of the RRB. So far this has been more at the level of hints than concrete commitment. That needs to change if the government expects any form of partnership in bringing this into effect.”

The next stage of the Renters’ Right Bill in the Lords, the Committee Stage, has been set for 22 April 2025, During this stage the Bill will be debated line by line and amendments considered.

Smith believes that that many amendments will be passed but that these will be scrapped later by the House of Commons by virtue of the very large Labour majority.

He states “Once the Committee Stage ends the third reading will occur in the Lords. Probably at some stage in May. Once ping pong is done (where the Commons kicks out all the Lords amendments!) that means the Bill getting Royal Assent in June or July. Then we can move on to implementation. As I have said elsewhere if the government is going to give the sector a real chance to prepare that makes meeting the original deadline of October impossible.”