(Title Image: Pixabay, copyright free)
At a Glance Guide
- Stage 1 report (summary)
In summary, the Bill will increase the notice period for “no-fault” evictions from 2 months to 6 months. Despite political pressure to do so, “no-fault” evictions won’t be abolished altogether.
Also, the Bill proposes that “break clauses” can’t be included in tenancies shorter than two years in length. For those tenancies which do include a break clause, the clause can’t be activated until 18 months into the tenancy.
Major Changes at Stage 2
The Communities Committee was responsible for Stage 2 amendments, along with the member in charge, Local Government & Housing Minister, Julie James (Lab, Swansea West).
Changes agreed at Stage 2 include:
- Notice periods and time restrictions for break clauses etc. will apply to fixed-term tenancies agreed after the first tenancy ends.
- Landlords will have 28 days (rather than 14 days in the original text of the Bill) to withdraw and reissue a Section 173 notice (aka. Section 21/no-fault eviction) without being penalised for serving multiple notices within the six month notice period.
- Housing association tenancies can be converted to secure occupation contracts whilst retaining fair rent protections under the Rent Act 1977.
The Key Amendments at Stage 3
Amendment 15 – Minister for Local Government & Housing, Julie James
Landlords who are unregistered or have failed to be licenced can’t issue an eviction notice except when the landlord’s interest has been transferred.
Vote: Approved – 36 for, 1 against, 12 abstentions
Amendment 32 – Delyth Jewell MS (Plaid, South Wales East)
Sets out a mechanism by which landlords need to have specific grounds to initiate a “no-fault” eviction. These grounds include (but aren’t limited to) mortgage requirements, disruptive works which require tenants to move out, to take possession of the property for themselves or a family member, HMO overcrowding or to sell a property. The Conservatives tabled a similar amendment.
Vote: Rejected – 8 for, 32 against, 8 abstentions
Amendment 53 – Laura Anne Jones MS (Con, South Wales East)
Specifically includes properties where the landlord is a member of the armed forces – and has been asked to leave service accommodation – in the list of properties which can be subject to Section 173 notices or break clauses for the landlord to the property back for their own use.
Vote: Rejected – 14 for, 35 against
