Michael Gove U-turns on promise to ban no-fault evictions before general election

Michael Gove has refused to repeat his promise that no-fault evictions will be axed in time for the general election as MPs are set to debate the Renters Reform Bill.

Speaking in a pooled broadcast clip ahead of the long-delayed rent reforms’ third reading today (24 April), the housing secretary rowed back on a previous promise that the five-year wait for Section 21 evictions, as they are also known, will be gone by the time voters go to the polls.

Instead, he put the heat on peers to pass the bill at pace – despite a wait of six months since MPs first had the opportunity to debate the bill at its second reading.

In that time, there has been opposition to the bill from a number of Conservative backbenchers and the third reading is likely to see some MPs rebel against the government.

Pro-renter groups are also unhappy with the bill and have accused ministers of “watering down” the bill through a number of amendments at the third reading to “appease landlords”. The Renters’ Reform Coalition has described the bill as a “failure” and has withdrawn support without significant changes.

“My determination is to ensure that we get this bill on the statute book. But it’s up to the Lords to decide the rate of progress that we can make,” said Gove, who added that he “hopes” the bill will be on the statute book by the general election.

“If opposition parties are supportive – and I believe that while they have some quibbles, they are supportive of the essential principle that we’re bringing forward – then we can have Section 21 ended before the general election. That’s the aim.”

It’s now been more than five years since the government first promised to ban no-fault evictions, which allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason.

That became a 2019 Conservative manifesto promise and the legislation to enact the ban, the Renters Reform Bill, was introduced in the House of Commons almost a year ago.

Once the bill has completed its passage through the Commons today, it faces a race against time to pass through five stages of scrutiny in the Lords to make it into law.

The bill could also face ‘ping pong’ between the two houses if MPs and peers cannot agree, much like the late-night sitting on the Safety of Rwanda Bill on Monday (22 April) where Lords eventually backed down on two amendments.

With Rishi Sunak previously hinting that the general election is slated for the second half of this year, there is limited time remaining for the bill to make it into law. Labour has promised to scrap no-fault evictions immediately if Keir Starmer is named prime minister.

Gove added: “If the Lords are as enthusiastic as I am about protecting tenants and also strengthening the position of good landlords then I know that this bill will have a fair passage and we can deliver before the general election.”

One peer who has vowed to further scrutinise the bill in the House of Lords is Big Issue founder Lord John Bird.

The crossbench peer said: “The government benches have continuously weakened the Renters Reform Bill throughout its passage in the Commons. I agree with the Renters’ Reform Coalition’s statement today that, if passed in its current form, it will be a complete failure for renters across the country, who deserve secure, safe, and affordable housing. Unfortunately, this government is breaking its manifesto promise of a better deal for renters.

“I look forward to the Renters Reform Bill coming to the Lords, where I intend to do what I can to make the legislation deliver for the millions of renters that desperately need stronger protection from those landlords who are unethical.”

Both Gove and landlord lobby group the National Residential Landlord Association said the bill strikes a “balance” between the needs of protecting tenants’ rights and allowing responsible landlords to regain their property. 

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