Tenant Fees Bill: Lords third reading

The Tenant Fees Bill had its third reading, a chance to 'tidy up' the bill and make changes, in the Lords on Tuesday 15 January.

Members agreed two amendments relating to interest payments owed by landlords or letting agents to enforcement authorities.

The bill now returns to the House of Commons for consideration of Lords amendments.

Lords report stage: Tuesday 11 December

Members discussed the acceptance of multiple holding deposits for the same property, the approval and designation of client money protection schemes and the requirement to belong to such a scheme.

Lords committee stage day two: Tuesday 20 November

Members discussed the early termination of tenancies and payments in respect of identity and immigration status checks.

Report stage, a further chance to examine the bill and make changes, is scheduled for 5 December.

Lords committee stage day one: Monday 5 November

The first day of committee stage of this bill took place in Grand Committee, a room outside the Lords chamber. In Grand Committee, any member can take part and decisions on amendments can be made, but no votes can take place.

Members discussed a range of subjects, including:

the government's duty to provide tenants with guidance on the effects of this bill
the reimbursement of costs incurred by enforcement agencies in the exercise of their duties
the requirement of tenants to make payments to cover a landlord or agent's loss due to a breach of the tenancy contract

Lords second reading: Wednesday 10 October

Members discussed unfair letting fees, compensation payments to tenants and home share schemes.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative), parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government, responded on behalf of the government.

Tenant Fees Bill summary

This bill will aim to:

make renting fairer and more affordable for tenants by reducing the costs at the outset of a tenancy
improve transparency and competition in the private rental market
ban letting fees paid by tenants in England
improve fairness, competition and affordability in the lettings sector

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