Renters’ Rights Bill reaches Committee Stage - 22nd April 2025

Since the 2nd Reading in the House of Lords, those with a vested interest have been waiting for the date of the Committee Stage to be announced.

The dates of the sittings in the House of Lords have been published - The Committee Stage will begin on April 22nd, 2025.

So what does this mean?

The ‘Marshalled List' of proposed amendments has been published. These amendments (changes) will be discussed, for example, the ability for landlords to accept more than one month’s rent in advance, 2 months notice served by tenants at any time during the Assured Periodic Tenancy, whether all grounds under Section 8 should be discretionary etc.

An updated list is produced before the start of each day of the committee stage.

What happens at Committee Stage?

During the committee stage EVERY CLAUSE of the Bill must be agreed to and votes on any change proposed can take place. Every suggested amendment has to be considered, if a member of the HOL wishes, and members can discuss an issue for as long as they want.

The government CANNOT restrict the subjects under discussion nor can they impose a time limit.

What happens after committee stage?

If the Bill has been amended, which of course it will, it is reprinted with all the agreed amendments. At the end of committee stage, the Bill moves to Report Stage for further scrutiny.
Report stage will provide all members of the Lords with a further opportunity to examine and make amendments  to the Bill.

Report Stage will usually start 14 days after committee stage has ended.

For further information see House of Lords