Renters’ Rights Bill [HL]

Key Points

• Extends landlord duties to include the landlord’s agent (or both) to strengthen accountability in rentals.
• Regulations that impose duties on private landlords must be laid before both Houses of Parliament for scrutiny (parliamentary oversight).
• Letting agents would face an offence if they charge tenants any premium in connection with a tenancy; defines premium to include any fine, sum or pecuniary charge.
• Amendments were proposed by Liberal Democrat peers (Lord Tope and Baroness Grender) and agreed at Committee stage, signalling a shift toward tighter controls on fees and accountability in the private rental market.
• Overall aim is to bolster renters’ rights while balancing landlord interests; the bill will continue through the Lords before moving to further stages in the legislative process.

Progress

The bill remains in the Lords, at Committee stage, with the three amendments agreed. It will progress to further consideration in the Lords and then move on to the Commons in due course.

Voting

Seven divisions on motions to disagree with Lords amendments showed clear cross‑party debate. The Conservative party generally opposed the changes by voting to keep the Lords’ amendments, while Labour and other parties supported retaining or expanding the protections in the Lords amendments, reflecting a divide over renters’ protections.