During the Ping-Pong Stage of the Renters' Rights Bill on 8 September, the UK Government used its Commons majority to overturn several key amendments proposed by the House of Lords.

While the full details will be published in Hansard, early reports indicate that most non-government amendments have been rejected. The Bill now returns to the House of Lords, which is expected to accept the Commons’ position to avoid further delays.

Key Amendments Rejected

1. Pet Damage Deposits

A proposed amendment to allow landlords to request a separate “pet deposit” of up to three weeks’ rent was overturned.

• Government stance: Existing pet consent measures are considered sufficient, and extra deposits are seen as a potential barrier to tenants.

2. Ground 4A – Student Lettings

The Government backed the original clause applying only to student HMOs, allowing alignment with the academic year.

• Attempts to expand fixed-term tenancies or introduce new grounds for smaller student properties were firmly rejected.

3. Re-letting Period Reduction

The Lords suggested reducing the wait period before a landlord can re-let a repossessed property (after regaining possession to sell) from 12 months to 6 months.

• Government stance: Keeping the 12-month period protects tenants and prevents misuse of “ground for sale” provisions.

4. Ground for Carers

An amendment introducing a new possession ground for landlords needing to house a carer for themselves or a family member was rejected.

• Government position: Existing possession grounds already provide sufficient flexibility.

5. Burden of Proof for Civil Penalties

The Lords sought to shift the burden of proof in cases relating to rental discrimination and rental bidding penalties.

• Government stance: The current framework remains appropriate and consistent with other regulatory enforcement.

Minor Amendment Accepted

Ground 5A – Agricultural Landlords

This ground has been narrowly expanded to allow agricultural landlords to evict tenants where they need to house workers, including self-employed individuals engaged in agricultural work.

What Happens Next?

There is currently no confirmed date for when the House of Lords will next review the Bill. With Parliament’s conference recess beginning on 19 September, it is unlikely that the Bill will reach Royal Assent before then.

At Boydens, we are monitoring developments closely. Once the final details are confirmed, we’ll update our fact sheet and provide practical insights to help landlords prepare for the upcoming changes.