The UK government will bring back the Rent Reform bill after Easter with changes, according to a leaked letter sent to MPs. 

Amendments the government plans to table to the bill include:

Accepting a proposal by the cross-party housing select committee that when fixed term tenancy agreements end, “tenants be unable to give two months’ notice to leave until they have been in a property for at least four months.”

Reviewing the operation of the courts before ending section 21 for existing tenancies to ensure the justice system can cope with the increased workload. The Law Society has warned that: “without investment for housing legal aid and the courts, the bill will not achieve its aims and may lead to an increase in backlogs and landlords and tenants alike will be unable to enforce their legal rights.”

Ensuring all types of student housing, including one and two bed properties, are covered by the planned ground for possession to protect the annual cycle of the student housing market.

This will ensure landlords can guarantee to prospective students that properties will be available to rent from the start of each academic year. Universities UK has noted that: “the annual cyclical model is critical for landlords’ business models which ensures a timely and robust supply of student accommodation.”

Commenting on the planned changes to the bill NRLA  chief executive Ben Beadle said: “All the rumour, speculation and off-the record briefings about the future of the Bill has caused a huge amount of concern and uncertainty for tenants and responsible landlords.

“The Government has a mandate to end section 21 repossessions. Our focus has been on ensuring that the replacement system works, and is fair, to both tenants and responsible landlords. The changes being proposed would achieve this balance.”

Beadle added that ministers now needed to crack on to ensure the bill proceeds with the scrutiny it deserves. “The lack of progress and uncertainty about the future is destabilising and damaging for those living and working in the private-rented sector. It is time to bring this to an end.”

Propertymark head of policy and campaigns Timothy Douglas said: “Propertymark is pleased to see amendments from the UK Government that help to address some of the key concerns of letting agents and strike a fairer balance of security for both landlords and tenants.

“We have worked hard on behalf of agents to highlight the unintended consequences of removing fixed-term tenancies, including, crucially, those for student housing.”

He added: The UK Government’s commitment to review the implementation of the move to open-ended tenancies and establish an initial six-month tenancy period for tenants, does provide more certainty for agents and their landlords.”

“Propertymark has also long said that the key to the success of the Renters (Reform) Bill is a swift, efficient, and cost-effective court system, so it is also pleasing to see the UK Government commit to further assessments and measures to ensure the current inadequacies that exist in the court system are tackled before removing no-fault evictions.”