As the Renters Rights Bill enters its final days in the House of Lords, the National Residential Landlords Association is claiming two wins in amendments that have been agreed.
An amendment enabling landlords to take an additional ‘pet deposit’ of three weeks’ rent was accepted, along with one that would reduce the restrictions on landlords reletting homes repossessed to be sold from 12 to six months.
However, the NRLA admits that the amendments were passed without government support – meaning that it is highly likely that when the Bill returns to the House of Commons the amendments will be reversed.
But the NRLA says it’s pleased that the government will undertake and publish a review of the Bill’s impact two- and five-years after implementation.
The association says in a statement about Pets and Lets: “We have repeatedly warned that landlords do need to be able to guard against the risk of damage caused by pets. Having recognised the need to reduce these risks, the Government’s recent decision to remove landlords’ ability to require pet insurance raised immediate concerns.
“In response to this an amendment was proposed by Lord de Clifford,which would enable landlords to take an additional ‘pet deposit’ of three weeks’ rent where a pet request is accepted.
“We were pleased to see Peers support this proposal and echo our arguments, with Lord De Clifford stating that if no damage occurs, ‘the deposit is returned…whereas the initial proposal for pet insurance was money never to be returned, regardless of whether a claim was made or not.’“
And on the amendment regarding re-letting restrictions, the statement says: “That the Renters Rights Bill as published would prevent landlords using the ‘for sale’ ground (1A) to repossess from re-letting their property for 12 months should, for example, a sale fall through. We have argued such a severe restriction on landlords’ ability to let out their property could result in much-needed homes being left empty.
“Peers agreed, passing an amendment loosening these restrictions and cutting the period in which a property cannot be re-let to 6 months. This is another welcome change by peers and shows yet again that our arguments around the restrictive nature of this provision have been getting through.”
The Bill now has a further Report Stage in the Lords tomorrow and then its concluding Third Reading is scheduled for July 21.
Parliament recess starts shortly after, so the government may push the Bill for Royal Assent before MPs break for the summer. Otherwise, the Renters Rights Bill won’t become law until the autumn.
This article is taken from Landlord Today